You can call them the “parking nazis” or the “fake police.”

You can give them the finger when you see a ticket on your windshield or swear under your breath when they come knocking on your dorm room during a late-night party.

But you can’t say that Department of Public Safety officers don’t take their job seriously or care about Iowa State and its students.

They proved that Tuesday night, when their efforts played an instrumental part in averting a possible crisis involving a troubled ISU student at Hawthorn Court.

DPS worked tirelessly into the night aiding in the search for the student, who was missing and believed to be a suicide risk.

After holding an emergency briefing that night, DPS officers and Ames Police searched the campus and surrounding areas.

The student was eventually found early Wednesday morning in Minnesota, alive.

DPS stepped up to the plate in a time of crisis Tuesday night, and proved that, when push comes to shove, they are there to help the ISU community.

They did their job, and they did it well, in a time when they were most needed.

Without the dedicated work of DPS officers, as well as the Ames Police, who knows what could have happened.

Maybe a life was saved that night.

DPS officers are more than “parking nazis” who get off on writing tickets to as many students as they possibly can in a day.

They are more than “fake police” who enjoy busting dorm parties and keggers.

They are out there doing what needs to be done; ensuring the safety of the ISU community, which they proved Tuesday night.

And for that, we applaud them.

editorialboard: Carrie Tett, Jocelyn Marcus, Katie Goldsmith, Andrea Hauser and Tim Paluch