Denice Koen
Director
My name is Denice Koen and I started in October 2023 as the Director of Public Safety. My background stems in law enforcement where I worked for several different police departments in California (Sacramento, UC Davis), Texas (Grand Prairie), and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. After spending most of my career in patrol, I was honored to also serve as a field training officer, criminal investigator – with a specialization in child crimes and domestic violence – and a patrol lieutenant. My most recent role was as the Captain of Police Services for Notre Dame.
In my free time, I am a dance mom and enjoy hiking.
Annie Nguyen
Operations Coordinator
Annie Nguyen has a Master's Degree and graduated from the POST certified Police Academy here on campus. She has over 1,000 hours of POST training in a variety of topics and worked as a sworn police officer at UCI. Annie has worked as a Public Safety Officer at Golden West College for 11 years, where she started in patrol. In 2019, Annie was promoted to the role of Public Safety Operations Coordinator where she is in charge of the access control and cameras systems, parking systems, and budgeting. Annie is part of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and has completed FEMA Incident Command training including ICS 100HE, ICS 200 and ICS 700. Annie is bilingual in Vietnamese and English.
Sheryl Barrera
Administrative Clerk
Sheryl Barrera began working with Golden West College in 2019 in Admissions and Records. Sheryl moved from Admissions and Records to the Public Safety Department as a Dispatcher in May 2023, while remaining a full-time student at CSUDH. Sheryl has since graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and was promoted to her current position as an Administrative Clerk – Senior. Sheryl monitors the cameras and access control, assists in all things parking, and is the voice on the phone when you call Public Safety. Sheryl enjoys weightlifting, going to the beach, and playing video games. Sheryl is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Manny Padilla
Dayshift Officer (Classified)
Manuel "Manny" Padilla has worked for Coast Community College District for over 21 years. He began as a Counseling Assistant for GWC in 2002. In 2003, he transitioned to the Public Safety Department where he has served several roles. Currently, Officer Padilla works Monday – Friday during the daytime.
Prior to working here, Officer Padilla graduated from GWC in 2002. During his time as a student, he was a part of the GWC soccer team.
In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, playing soccer and basketball. His favorite team is the LA Lakers and he looks forward to seeing them win more championships. Officer Padilla is married with two children and enjoys traveling and going to the movies. Officer Padilla is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Aaron Justice
Dayshift Officer (Classified)
Officer Aaron Justice has worked for Coast Community College District since June 2003. Officer Justice was with OCC's Public Safety Department for 13 years before joining the GWC team. Officer Justice works Monday – Friday during the daytime so expect to see him walking around campus.
Officer Justice is married and has one son. In his free time, he likes to experiment with light photography, computers and gaming.
Chad Miller
Swing shift Officer (Classified)
Officer Chad Miller has worked for Golden West College Public Safety for approximately 5 years and is assigned to our swing shift (Monday – Friday in the afternoons/evening). Officer Miller was born and raised on a small working farm in Southern Ohio before moving to California when he was 10 years old with his family and twin sister. Officer Miller enjoys college football, professional football and movies.
Officer Miller has an Associates degree from a community college and a Bachelor's degree from CSULB. He also used to officiate high school and lower collegiate basketball. In his spare time, Officer Miller takes care of his 17- year-old nephew.
Marcus Seevers
Swing shift Officer (Classified)
Officer Marcus Seevers has been employed with Coast Community College District for the past 18 years where he had assignments at district transportation and unemployment services while also serving as a part-time safety officer. Officer Seevers works on the Swing Shift (Monday – Friday afternoons/evenings). Prior to working for GWC, he worked in the pest control business and served as a campus security assistant in a local K-12 school system. Officer Seevers also worked retail security at various locations in both Orange and LA counties where he was a Field Training Officer and was promoted to a supervisor prior to him leaving that role.
During his off-time, Officer Seevers enjoys spending time with his friends and adult daughter. He also surfs, enjoys riding a bicycle, playing strategy games and strumming on a guitar.
Toai Nguyen
Graveyard shift Officer (Classified)
Officer Toai Nguyen was worked for GWC since 1987 where he started as a student assistant to in the public safety department. In 1989, he began as an hourly officer before being promoted to a full-time officer in 1992. Officer Nguyen currently works the graveyard shift on campus.
Officer Nguyen holds two Bachelor degrees from CSULB; one in Criminal Justice and the other in Computer Science.
Jack Taylor
Graveyard / Weekend Day shift Officer (Classified)
Officer Jack Taylor started working for the Coast Community College District in 1990 (over 33 years!) as a part-time Public Safety Officer at Golden West College. For his first seven years, he worked the swap meet on the weekends and worked as needed inside the campus Monday-Friday. Taylor then worked the interior campus on the weekends and continued to work as needed Monday-Friday. In 2004, he was hired full-time and have worked the day shift Saturdays and Sundays and graveyard shifts Monday through Wednesday since then.
Phong Duong
Graveyard shift Officer (Classified)
Officer Phong Duong began his career at Golden West College in November 2007 as a part time Public Safety Officer where he worked the weekend swap meet and parking enforcement. Officer Duong eventually transitioned to working weekday parking enforcement before being trained on all other shifts (Days, Swings, Graveyard and in the office). In November 2020, Officer Duong was hired on as a full-time Public Safety Officer. He worked the swing shift for one year before switching becoming one of our graveyard shift officers.
John Benane
Part-time Officer
Maria Gutierrez
Part-time Officer
Officer Maria Gutierrez graduated with her degree in Criminal Justice from Santa Ana College in 2019. Officer Gutierrez started as a student worker for Santiago Canyon’s campus safety department. Officer Gutierrez has worked in public safety for over 6 years and began with Golden West College in _____. You’ll see Officer Gutierrez working on the weekends for the swap meet, or during weekdays doing parking enforcement. Officer Gutierrez is bilingual and speaks both Spanish and English.
Vicky Malton
Part-time Officer
Officer Vicky Malton has been working with Golden West College Public Safety for over 5 years. You’ll find her on campus during the swap meet on the weekends and parking enforcement during the week.
Jake Monroe
Part-time Officer
Officer Jake Monroe has been a Public Safety officer at Golden West College for a little over 8 years. Before that he was a Tactical Responder/NSO 1 for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for over 9 years. When not at Golden West College, Officer Monroe teaches CCW and self-defense shooting classes in addition to providing executive protection. In his spare time, he likes to travel and scuba dive. You'll find Officer Monroe working the weekend swap meet and parking enforcement during the week.
James Pena
Part-time Officer
Officer James Pena retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after 31 ½ years of service. During his tenure, Officer Pena worked in patrol, was a field training officer, undercover officer and was an academy instructor. Officer Pena was also a trained Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and an incident commander.
Officer Pena has worked with the Golden West Public Safety Department since May 2023. You’ll see him working weekends for the swap meet and as parking enforcement during the week.
Jim Phan
Part-time Officer
Officer Phan worked as a Public Safety Officer for Golden West from September 2018 to the end of December 2019. In April 2023, he returned to work with the Golden West Public Safety Department.
Prior to joining the Golden West Public Safety Department, Officer Phan was a criminal investigator for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. He worked with The California Department of Insurance (DOI) undercover to assist with investigating law offices, automotive body shops, and chiropractors, the California Department of Health (DHS) investigating doctors for false billing, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) investigating counterfeit identification cards. Officer Phan was also assigned to the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force (OCATT)
Henry Pho
Part-time Officer
fficer Henry Pho has worked as a part-time public safety officer for GWC for the last 20 years. Officer Pho also has 15 years experience in Construction managment and spent 15 years with the Orange County Sheriff's department. Officer Pho works on campus during the weekend afternoon/evening hours.
Brian Solis
Part-time Officer
Officer Brian Solis has worked for over 6 years as a part-time public safety officer at GWC handling the swap meet. Officer Solis also works as a public safety officer for Fullerton College, and Tustin Unified School District where he has worked for the last 7 years. Officer Solis is bilingual in Spanish and English.
