The spiritual, personal, and professional growth that students undergo at Azusa Pacific University is made possible by living and learning in a safe environment. Thanks to the Department of Campus Safety, APU students get to flourish, knowing that campus is protected. John Kirstenpfad ’06 plays a key role, implementing his years of experience in law enforcement to ensure Campus Safety has the tools it needs to continue keeping APU safe.
Originally from Lakewood, Calif., Kirstenpfad attended Long Beach City College before starting his career in law enforcement. He began working with the Azusa Police Department (APD) in 1992, then transitioned to Anaheim in 2003. Wanting to complete his bachelor’s degree, Kirstenpfad enrolled in APU’s organizational leadership program. “I wanted to learn in a diverse setting, where I could meet people from different walks of life,” he said. “Studying through a Christian perspective was another thing that drew me into APU, and the openness across campus to pray and talk about Christ has always been appealing to me.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Kirstenpfad continued his career as an officer. He was promoted to sergeant and retired around the same time as Paul Dennis, executive director of Campus Safety at APU. Kirstenpfad and Dennis worked at Azusa PD together. Dennis called his friend, inviting him to join APU’s Campus Safety team in 2020, when a new armed program was underway. “The campus was quiet when I started because of the pandemic, but it was great to see it come back to life soon after,” Kirstenpfad said.
As assistant director, Kirstenpfad’s role is to ensure Campus Safety’s operations run smoothly. He works directly with the dispatch supervisor, Special Services Officer (SSO) supervisor, and Campus Safety Officer (CSO) supervisor, planning day-to-day operations, creating training schedules, recruiting, and more. A large ethos of Campus Safety is to approach any kind of communication, whether with newcomers or members of the APU community, with friendliness. His nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement equip Kirstenpfad to collaborate with his colleagues while making decisions under pressure and keeping APU protected.
One of the aspects Kirstenpfad loves most about APU is getting to pray with his co-workers. “It’s really refreshing to feel comfortable being open about faith with others,” he said. Kirstenpfad enjoys participating in chapel, especially getting to witness a new generation of Christians freely worshiping and diving into their faith.
A rewarding part of his job is when Kirstenpfad gets to mentor student workers who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Sharing advice and his own experiences in the field have helped students go on to become officers, detectives, firefighters, and more. Additionally, Kirstenpfad’s colleagues often share stories with each other about their years as police officers and reminisce.
Outside of work, Kirstenpfad spends time running and cycling with his wife, Kristin, of 23 years. The Kirstenpfads have two daughters, one in college and one who recently graduated, who sometimes join them on runs as well. Kirstenpfad and his wife have more than 250 medals combined from the marathons they’ve run over the years, and their goal is to finish a half marathon in every state.
Whether he’s collaborating with his colleagues to solve problems, engaging with students as they navigate their career journeys, or running with his wife and daughters, Kirstenpfad reflects Christ’s light by serving others with a joyful heart.
If you need to contact Campus Safety call (626)815-5000, or use the Safe APU Mobile App.