An inside look at living, studying and working at Cal Poly.

Inside Cal Poly

Original Source: KSBY



Reporter: KSBY Staff



Date: July 23, 2025



Link: <a href="https://www.ksby.com/san-luis-obispo/cal-poly-announces-new-chief-of-police">https://www.ksby.com/san-luis-obispo/cal-poly-announces-new-chief-of-police</a>



The Cal Poly Police Department is officially under new leadership after a swearing-in ceremony for the chief of police on Friday.



His appointment comes after previous chief George Hughes was promoted in the summer of 2024 to the role of associate vice president of Public Safety, which oversees the police departments at both Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and the Cal Poly Solano campus, as well as the university’s Transportation and Parking Services and Department of Emergency Services.



“With his extensive background in public safety and working collaboratively with an academic community similar to ours, Robert is going to be a perfect fit with our holistic, compassionate and progressive public safety approach at Cal Poly,” Hughes said in a press release.

Police officer raising right hand, taking an oath in front of an American flag and podium.

New Chief of Cal Poly Police Department Swears in Friday

Original Source: KEYT



Reporter: Jarrod Zinn



Date: July 25, 2025



Link: <a href="https://keyt.com/news/san-luis-obispo-county/2025/07/25/new-police-chief-and-officers-sworn-in-at-cal-poly/">https://keyt.com/news/san-luis-obispo-county/2025/07/25/new-police-chief-and-officers-sworn-in-at-cal-poly/</a>



Cal Poly held the swearing-in ceremony for its new police chief this morning.



Robert Plastino brings nearly three decades of experience in public safety with the Santa Barbara county sheriff&#8217;s office in various capacities.



“I’m excited to be here,” says Chief Plastino. “I have got a great department to work with. I have a great boss that has stood in my shoes before, which is unusual. That&#8217;s not something that normally happens. Chiefs come in and they don&#8217;t get to work directly for the previous chief. So that&#8217;s a positive. That means that it&#8217;s going to be a seamless operation.”

Police chief speaking at podium during Cal Poly welcome event, news banner reads "Cal Poly welcomes new police chief.

New Police Chief and Officers Sworn in at Cal Poly

Original Source: The Tribune



Reporter: Sasha Tuddenham



Date: July 23, 2025



Link: <a href="https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/education/cal-poly-university/article311199350.html">https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/education/cal-poly-university/article311199350.html</a>



Cal Poly has named Robert Plastino as the university’s new chief of police, according to a news release Tuesday.



He comes from 27 years at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office where he managed the department’s North and South County operations, the release said. In Santa Barbara, he supervised more than 250 sworn and non-sworn staff, along with criminal investigations.



According to the release, he has worked with colleges before, collaborating with UC Santa Barbara’s administration and students. He also established community relations with Isla Vista residents.

Aerial view of a residential area with apartment buildings, green trees, a football field, and a running track.

Cal Poly Welcomes New Police Chief with Decades of Experience

Original Source: KCLU



Reporter: Lance Orozco



Date: July 25, 2025



Link: <a href="https://www.kclu.org/2025-07-25/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo-gets-to-police-chief">https://www.kclu.org/2025-07-25/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo-gets-to-police-chief</a>



A Central Coast college has a new police chief who&#8217;s already a familiar face in Tri-Counties law enforcement.



Robert Plastino was sworn in on Friday as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Police Chief. He&#8217;ll oversee 22 officers.



Plastino spent nearly three decades with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. He has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor&#8217;s in business administration. He also has extensive experience working with UC Santa Barbara.

University campus with buildings, sports fields, and tennis courts, surrounded by green hills under a clear sky.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Gets New Police Chief

Summer break is almost here! The Cal Poly Police Department has some tips to keep you safe whether you’re staying in SLO, going home to work, or in a new city for an internship.



Below are six easy ways to prevent yourself from becoming more vulnerable than necessary or putting yourself into potentially harmful situations.



1. Be aware of your surroundings



When you find yourself becoming unaware of what’s going on around you, it’s time to turn the music down, put your phone away and open your eyes to what’s happening. This is important whether you’re in a familiar area or somewhere new.



2. Don’t walk alone at night



There is safety in numbers! If you aren’t able to walk home or to your car with a pal, use rideshare or public transportation, and make sure you tell someone your route and when you arrive home safely.



3. Know where to find the emergency Blue Lights on campus



There are nearly 100 “Blue Light” phones located throughout campus that are available 24/7 to contact emergency responders. Keep an eye out for these the next time you find yourself on a campus walkway, parking structure, or other common area.



4. Lock your car and home



We know summer can be relaxing, but don’t relax on safety. Locking your doors, especially when you’re alone or asleep, should be one of them. It is also important to lock your car door whether it’s at home or in a parking lot.



5. When your friends leave a party, you should too



No, you don’t need to call it an early night just because one of your friends does. But, what you should do is ensure you always have a minimum of one person with you that you know and trust. Being alone in a party setting isn’t smart – go home if you’re going to be alone because it is not worth the risk to stay – no matter how nice everyone there seems.



6. Always have emergency contacts on your phone



If you have a smartphone, program emergency numbers into it. It’s one of the first spots hospitals check if you’re admitted alone because they are able to bypass your passcode in order to access your contacts.



Your Cal Poly Police Department works throughout the year to make sure campus stays safe. They’ll be available all summer and available to assist 24/7 and may be contacted at 805-756-2281, or call 9-1-1 if there is an emergency.

Clock tower showing 7:05 and 1:45 at night with lit pathways, trees, mountain, and starry sky in the background.

Summer Safety Tips From Your Cal Poly Police Department

Winter is here. At Cal Poly that typically means days in the high 60’s with the eventual rainy spell. This also means shorter days, and longer nights. If you’re leaving class or work in the evening hours it’s good to take some extra precautions. The Cal Poly Police Department has a few tips to help keep you stay safe this winter quarter:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Avoid Walking Alone at Night. The buddy system works great on a college campus! Walking with a friend or roommate is always a good idea and can be done six feet apart while wearing your mask.</li>



<li>Locate Emergency Blue Light Phones. There are nearly 100 “Blue Light” phones located throughout campus that can be used 24/7 to contact emergency responders. Keep an eye out for these the next time you find yourself on a campus walkway, parking structure, or other common areas.</li>



<li>Consider Carrying a Whistle or Pepper Spray. It never hurts to carry these personal defense devices. You can even attach them to your keys to create a stylish lanyard.</li>



<li>Put Devices Down. Don’t allow your device to distract you. Wait until you are at your destination to check your Instagram feed. This also means turning down the tunes in your air pods so you can hear your surroundings.</li>



<li>Travel in Well-Lit Areas. Stick to campus paths with good lighting and avoid hidden short cuts.</li>



<li>Tell a Friend or Family Member Your Whereabouts. Always let a friend, roommate or even family member know where you plan on being at night. You can also share your location in case of an emergency.</li>
</ul>



As always, you can always reach campus police 24/7 at 805-756-2281. Check out CPPD’s&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/police/">website</a>&nbsp;for more ways to keep yourself safe this winter.

Clock tower on a building at night with illuminated pathways, trees, and a mountain with a red light tower in the background.

Safety After Dark

Finals, group projects, the upcoming holidays. We know you have a lot on your mind and packing your belongings as you prepare to leave for the next five weeks is perhaps not on the top of the list. The holidays have traditionally been a time of travel, therefore the Cal Poly Police Department has prepared some tips for making sure you are equipped to travel safely as well as leave your residence so that it is secure until your return in January.



1. Limit your interactions to only those that are essential 14 days prior to going out of town. 2. Consider getting a COVID test or a free flu shot from the Health Center before departing. 3. Bring electronic devices such as computers/laptops/tablets and gaming devices home. 4. Unplug devices and power strips. This includes TVs, microwaves, coffee makers, lamps, curling irons, etc. This will help save energy and ensure nothing is left on for five weeks. 5. Close all windows, blinds and curtains. This includes locking your windows and turning off all lights. 6. Clean up before you leave: throw away old food, no one wants to return to month-old moldy food! Do not unplug your refrigerator. Wash your dishes and take the garbage out. 7. Make sure you don’t have any packages arriving to your on or off campus housing. You can also put your mail on hold for up to 30 days through the post office. 8. Lock your dorm or home before you leave! 9. Travel responsibly, wear a mask on all planes, buses, trains and other vehicles with others present. 10. As always, wash your hands and stay at least 6 feet apart from other travelers whenever possible.



As a reminder, all university offices will be closed from 5 p.m. Dec. 24 until 8 a.m. Jan. 4. However, CPPD will be on campus and available to assist 24/7 and may be contacted at 805-756-2281. With the ongoing pandemic, please ensure you are traveling safely during the holidays and continuing to follow physical distancing guidelines. For guidance from Cal Poly regarding COVID-19, please click here.



From all of us at your Cal Poly Police Department, we hope you have a safe, and happy holiday season. We’ll see you in the New Year!

Modern white buildings in a valley surrounded by hills at sunset, with roads and trees nearby.

Home for the Holidays – Safety Tips from Your Cal Poly Police Department

This spring quarter Cal Poly Police’s dispatch center began receiving and responding to 911 text messages. While this is a great enhancement to this life saving service, 911 texting is only to be used in emergency situations when you cannot make a call. It was designed specifically for situations involving individuals with hearing and speech impairments, or in circumstances where making a phone call would put an individual in danger.



Keep these points in mind when considering the best way to contact 911:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Always call first, use texting as a last resort</li>



<li>Texting 911 requires that your phone carrier can identify your location</li>



<li>You will be asked for your location after texting 911</li>



<li>Texting 911 requires a data plan and is not available while your device is roaming</li>



<li>911 text messaging does not accept photos or videos</li>



<li>Avoid using abbreviations, difficult language, other languages besides English, or emojis in your text</li>



<li>911 texts are to be sent only to 911, no group texts allowed</li>



<li>Remember, it is a crime to text with a false emergency</li>
</ul>



Use this service with caution and stay safe Mustangs!

9-1-1 call if you can, text if you can't with a phone icon showing 9-1-1 text bubble.

Tag: Cal Poly Police