Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
It is hard to believe that October is upon us already. It seems like it was just yesterday that everyone was returning to campus. We hope you are settling in nicely to the fall semester.
I have several important topics I would like to address with you this update, including:
- Off-Campus Burglary Update
- Monthly Bias Update
- Emergencies on Campus
- Fire Prevention Week
- Annual Security Report
- Orange Safe App Now Available for Download
Off-Campus Burglary Update
I have spoken with some students and families about the recent burglaries happening off campus in the east neighborhood. I would like to share with our campus community some key points:
- Since Aug. 2, 2022, there have been over 75 burglaries throughout the City of Syracuse.
- 38 of those burglaries occurred in the east neighborhood; however, not all incidents involved Syracuse University students.
- In most of the incidents, the suspects have entered through open first floor windows or unlocked doors.
- We understand these events are concerning. Please know we are working hard with the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) and New York State Police to mitigate the occurrence of these incidents and have refined our tactics accordingly. These new tactics are yielding positive results.
- Additionally, several arrests have been made including:
- On Aug. 26, SPD arrested a suspect in the 700 block of Salt Springs Road in a stolen vehicle related to an east neighborhood burglary.
- On Sept. 11, thanks to the community member who called in suspicious activity, SPD and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested two suspects who had been in possession of firearms.
Also on Sept. 11, the New York State Police arrested a suspect in a stolen vehicle taken during an east neighborhood burglary. - On Sept. 17, DPS apprehended two suspects who were later arrested for second degree harassment thanks to the community members who reported an incident to one of our officers on patrol.
We all must remain vigilant. Our officers, along with the Syracuse Police Department are out patrolling. If members of our community observe anything suspicious, please call us at 315.443.2224. I stress the importance of calling in these instances because the quicker our response, the better the outcome. Additionally, as a reminder, please lock your doors and windows. The vast majority of recent burglaries are the result of criminals entering through open windows and unlocked doors.
Monthly Bias Update
Sept. 16: According to the anonymous reporter, a group of male students reportedly made animal sounds and behaved in a rowdy manner in the overnight hours on the third floor of Day Hall. The anonymous reporting party described feeling targeted by the behavior.
Update: This case is still under investigation. Our team performed an extensive review of the available camera footage and conducted an extensive search of Day Hall and have yet to encounter anyone with firsthand experience of this incident. We continue to look for additional leads and urge anyone with information to come forward.
Sept. 23: The reported incident allegedly occurred on one of the student floors in the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel. According to the report, an anonymous individual said they heard what they believed to be a racial slur coming from inside one of the rooms on their floor.
Update: Our team performed an extensive search and reviewed camera footage, along with other electronic data. The investigation has been unable to substantiate that the incident occurred as described.
As a reminder, if we do have additional updates, we will update the chart on our website and share any developments in this monthly email.
It is also never too late to come forward with information. You can call DPS at 315.443.2224 or submit information anonymously via the Silent Witness tool. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the STOP Bias website.
Emergencies on Campus
What should you do in the event of an emergency on campus? Call 911.
Even if you are in doubt of whether you should call or not; err on the side of caution and call. Our emergency communications center that is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year, is connected with the Onondaga County 911 Center.
Also, our website has helpful resources to prepare you in the event of an emergency on campus, including emergency procedures and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) locations. I encourage you to take a few moments to familiarize yourself with both.
Fire Prevention Week
Our team at Fire and Life Safety Services (FLSS) responds to emergency incidents, such as fire alarm activations across campus, in partnership with the Syracuse Fire Department. FLSS is responsible for maintaining the University’s fire detection and suppression systems and related life safety equipment. FLSS manages and conducts inspections of residential, administrative and academic facilities to comply with federal, state and local applicable building and fire codes.
As part of Fire Prevention Week, Sunday, Oct. 9, through Saturday, Oct. 15, our team at Fire and Life Safety Services would like to remind you of the following important fire safety practices:
- Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing off-campus housing.
- Make sure you can hear the building alarm system when you are in your residence hall room.
If you live in a residence hall, make sure your sleeping room has a smoke alarm, or your suite has a smoke alarm in each living area as well as the sleeping room. For the best protection, all smoke alarms in the residence hall suite should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound. - If you live in an apartment or house, make sure smoke alarms are installed in each sleeping room, outside every sleeping area, and on each level of the apartment unit or house. For the best protection, all smoke alarms in the apartment unit or house should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
- When using a space heater, plug the heater directly into a wall outlet. Do not plug it into a power strip or extension cord.
- Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.
- Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
- Learn your building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
- If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
- When the smoke alarm or fire alarm sounds, get out of the building quickly and stay out.
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
- Cook only when you are alert, not sleepy or drowsy from medicine or alcohol.
- Check with your local fire department for any restrictions before using a barbeque grill, fire pit or chimenea.
- Check the University’s rules before using electrical appliances in your room.
Watch for our Fire and Life Safety team outside Oren Lyons Hall on Friday, Oct. 14. Follow @SyracuseDPS on social media for further details.
Annual Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act requires colleges and universities to publish an Annual Security Report by Oct. 1 each year. Our report, published on Friday, documents the past three calendar years’ worth of select campus crime information, including statistics and detailing the University’s security policies and procedures.
I urge you to familiarize yourself with the report’s information, resources and services. And I ask that you be a vigilant partner in our ongoing and collective efforts to maintain a safe environment where all our community members can thrive.
Orange Safe App Now Available for Download
Have you downloaded the Orange Safe app yet? This mobile safety app launched this fall and replaces Rave Guardian which was officially decommissioned on Friday, Sept. 23. Orange Safe is a free app which provides several tools designed to keep you safe. I would like to highlight just a few of the following features:
- On-Campus BlueLight: While you are on campus, tap the button to simultaneously send your location to and call the DPS Emergency Communications Center (ECC). The DPS ECC will receive your location in real time and talk to you on the phone.
- Safe Walk: Send your location in real time to a friend so they can watch you as you walk to your destination. They’ll watch you and can trigger a call to emergency services if necessary. It is as simple as sending a text message to a family or friend and they will be sent a link used to follow you. Once you reach your destination, you can easily disconnect.
- Social Escape: Get out of a tough social situation by receiving a call that gives you an excuse to leave. Simply enter your phone number in the app and set how quickly you want to receive the phone call.
To learn more and download the app today, visit our website at dps.syr.edu.
I wish you much success as we reach the midway point of the semester.
Sincerely,
Chief Craig Stone
Department of Public Safety