DPS News

Every year, the second week of April marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the dedication, service and sacrifices of public safety telecommunicators. The staff of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) within the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) serve as a prime example of dedication, skill and the vital importance of these individuals. Each year, the dispatchers within the ECC manage nearly 60,000 calls, serving as the first point of contact for the campus community in times of crisis and need.

The ECC team is comprised of highly trained personnel adept at handling a wide range of situations with calmness and efficiency. Whether it’s handling emergency calls, coordinating with DPS officers or providing crucial information during critical incidents, these dispatchers are always ready to offer their support.

“The ECC is the problem-solving center of this campus. Whether it comes to lockouts, dead car batteries or something more serious, we can help or get a hold of the staff who can help solve the problem,” says Michael Wilson, public safety dispatcher. “We even assist our Orange family who study abroad in Florence and London!”

Their work is not just about answering calls; it’s about ensuring the safety and security of students, faculty and staff on campus. They operate 24/7, 365 days a year, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the campus community.

Mateo Tarrats, emergency communications center manager, believes the genuine care of the ECC staff is what makes them special, “Every single person that works on this staff is here because they care about the work they do. This is not an easy occupation. People gravitate towards this kind of work because they genuinely care about the well-being of others.”

The ability to manage tens of thousands of calls per year is not just a testament to their individual skills but also to their collective effort and dedication towards creating a safe and responsive campus environment.

“The most rewarding aspect is knowing every call you are going to be helping someone,” says Shannon Hogue, public safety dispatcher. “We go out of our way to find answers if we do not know them already.”

The ECC staff is always looking to help the campus community with the best service possible. NPSTW serves as a necessary reminder of all the work that happens behind the scenes. The DPS team is always available: Call us 24/7, 365 days a year at 315.443.2224. You can also reach us by dialing #78 (#SU) from your cell phone, dialing 711 from a campus landline or by utilizing the Orange Safe app.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Next week, on Monday, April 8, parts of Central New York, including our campus, will be in the path of the solar eclipse. While this is an exciting event that will bring many visitors to our region, I want you to be aware of the impact the eclipse can have on our community’s safety and well-being. I ask that you please review the following message carefully in preparation of the solar eclipse, which includes answers to the following questions:

• What is a solar eclipse?
• How can I stay safe while viewing the solar eclipse?
• When will the solar eclipse happen?
• What are the travel implications?
• Where can I learn more about the solar eclipse?

What is a solar eclipse? Link

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, thus blocking the sun and casting the moon’s shadow partially or totally over a small path on Earth. During a total solar eclipse, “totality” will result in the appearance of evening like darkness as the moon covers the sun.

A total solar eclipse is what will occur on April 8. Syracuse is situated very close to the eastern limit of the eclipse path, with relatively modest durations of totality.

How can I stay safe while viewing the solar eclipse? Link

The most important consideration for viewing a solar eclipse is eye safety. Please follow these safety reminders if you plan on observing the eclipse:

• The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers.
• Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit far more sunlight than is safe for our eyes.
• Inspect your eclipse glasses before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it.
• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device.
• For those inside the path of totality on April 8, remove your eclipse glasses only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases.

For more information on eye safety and additional safety measures to consider, please visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) eclipse safety webpage.

When will the solar eclipse happen? Link

The path of the eclipse means it will reach the Central New York area after 2 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Here is the exact timing for the eclipse in Syracuse:

• Start of partial eclipse: 2:09 p.m.
• Start of total eclipse: 3:23:12 p.m.
• End of total eclipse: 3:24:15 p.m.
• End of partial eclipse: 4:34 p.m.

For those observing the eclipse in Syracuse, you can expect totality to last for approximately 1 minute and 3 seconds. Totality will occur for longer periods north of the Syracuse area. To explore the path of the eclipse and duration of totality, visit the National Eclipse website.

What are the travel implications? Link

The Central New York area, especially areas more north toward the middle of path, are expecting a large influx of visitors to view the eclipse. Please be mindful of the potential for increased traffic on April 8. You may need to adjust travel plans, especially if traveling before or immediately after the eclipse is over.

It is worth noting that a common issue following past solar eclipses is that many vehicles have run out of gas being stuck in heavy traffic. Be sure to have a full tank of gas for your vehicles if you plan on traveling during or after the eclipse and have a secondary route in mind to avoid the traffic altogether.

Where can I learn more about the solar eclipse? Link

I urge our campus community to read more about solar eclipses and follow safety guidelines provided from trusted agencies. Here are some additional resources to check out ahead of April 8:

• NASA’s Eclipse Website
• National Eclipse Website for Syracuse
• ‘A Beautiful, Once-In-a-Lifetime Event’: The Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
• Where to Watch on April 8: Total Solar Eclipse Events Planned on the Syracuse University Campus

Thank you for your attention to this message. And, as a reminder, the Department of Public Safety is always working and available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 315.443.2224.

Sincerely,

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety
Student Experience Division

Nine new recruits were sworn into the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) Campus Peace Officer Academy on March 21 by Syracuse Police First Deputy Chief Richard Shoff. Collaborating with the Syracuse Police Department on the swearing-in ceremony serves as an official welcome and endorsement of the joint law enforcement efforts in the University area, and to provide these campus peace officers with the authority to enforce New York State law and local ordinances upon completion of the academy. 

The recruits sworn into this academy class are: 

• Thomas Bingham 
• Kit Diana 
• Donovan Green 
• Keyatta Green 
• Teng Kiir 
• Sean McCaffery 
• Delana Thomas 
• Barrington Wallace 
• Liam Welling 

The nine individuals listed above are training to become Syracuse University campus peace officers. One additional recruit, Jay Kreis, is joining this peace officer academy and will be heading to Onondaga Community College upon completion. 

“We are excited to welcome this group of recruits and work with them over the next several months,” said Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director. This is now the eighth time that the Department of Public Safety has held its own peace officer academy. 

During the academy, these recruits will be subject to technical, physical, classroom and field-based tests. Upon successful completion of the academy, graduates progress to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks. 

Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the Department of Public Safety, addressed the friends and families of the recruits. “We are excited to welcome new members to our team and all of them have prior customer service experience. They will assist us in keeping the campus community safe and increasing community engagement with our students as we strive to obtain advanced CALEA accreditation,” he said. 

The University’s Department of Public Safety provides round-the-clock protection to the Syracuse University campus. Through various patrol and crime prevention efforts, DPS partners with students, faculty, and staff to identify, recognize and eliminate crime hazards and risks within the campus community. 

On March 6, 33 members of the campus community graduated from the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Community Police Academy (CPA). The 33 graduates are nearly double the 17 that graduated from the Fall 2023 CPA.

The CPA is a free four-week program designed to give students, faculty and staff an idea of what it is like to protect and serve the campus community. During their time in the program, participants learned from guest presenters, including certified instructors from DPS, Syracuse Police and Syracuse University Ambulance.

The CPA wrapped up with a ceremony where the graduates were presented with CPA graduation certificate from Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “The CPA is vital in our efforts to engage with and build trust with our campus community,” says Stone. “We nearly doubled the number of graduates from our previous CPA. It is a testament to the hard work of our instructors for developing, obtaining feedback from graduates, and improving a program that continues to gain momentum within our community.”

Officer George Wazen, coordinator of the CPA, is thankful the campus community has embraced the program with such enthusiasm.

“To see the excitement around the CPA continue to grow each semester is inspiring for us as instructors. To have this forum to host members of our community and learn from each other is invaluable to us at DPS,” says Wazen. Finding ways to innovate and have an interactive curriculum is paramount. “Thanks to feedback from our graduates we are already evaluating how to evolve the program in the future,” he says.

Dates for the next CPA during the Fall 2024 semester are in the process of being finalized. To learn more about the program, visit dps.syr.edu and follow DPS on social media (@syracusedps) for updates.