Coach John Beam voiced concerns about Oakland Laney College safety a day before shooting
A day before the legendary Laney College Athletic Director John Beam was shot and killed, he raised concerns about campus security.
"We lost something that we can't really grasp yet, but you can feel it. You can feel it in the air; you can feel it around," said Nolan White, a Laney College student.
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One of the last times many saw Coach Beam was at a public presentation with the interim director of community safety, advocating campus safety.
"I believe his exact words as he was expressing frustration about the response was 'six guards, 24 hours - how does that work?'" said Desmond Meagley, Editor-in-Chief of the Peralta Citizen. "He was saying that there was inadequate response, that there weren't enough guards, and the response time wasn't sufficient and that the follow-up wasn't there."
Student journalists with the Peralta Citizen publication reported on coach Beam speaking up about a break-in that happened at the field house days earlier and his push for answers just one day before he was shot and killed.
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"He was dissatisfied with the response that came from our security. He said that they were able to show him essentially footage of what happened but were not actually able to pursue or detain a suspect because they are armed private security guards and their job is to observe and report. They are limited in what they can do, they can't arrest as private security," said Meagley.
According to a student at the event, Coach Beam said he felt the campus was less safe after the Peralta Community College District, which includes Laney College, terminated its contract with the Alameda County sheriff's Office in 2020.
On campus, ABC7 News saw several security guards with Diligence Security Group. On their website , Diligence offers both unarmed and armed officers. ABC7 News contacted Laney College to get more clarity on their contract and have not heard back in the aftermath of the shooting, many students are still questioning campus security.
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Those who knew Coach Beam want to carry on his legacy.
"He kind of used to tell me don't ever give up on yourself. Not just him but other groups but he was the one who always told me that," said White and added, "Give back to the city that raised me. I owe it to the city. I owe it to coach Beam."
Students say Beam would want them and Laney to keep growing.
