February 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe the calendar has already flipped to March. It feels like it was just yesterday when all of us at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) were eagerly awaiting the return of our campus community for the spring semester.

In today’s message, I will address the following topics:

  • Community Police Academy
  • DPS Social Media
  • Threat Assessment and Management Team Information
  • Updates From CSEMS
  • Preparing Residences for Spring Break
  • Monthly Bias Update

Community Police Academy

I am pleased to share that our second Community Police Academy (CPA) is well underway with a group of 28 members. The CPA has given members of our campus community an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve at Syracuse University. We have been happy to collaborate with and welcome guests from the Syracuse Police Department, Fire and Life Safety Services, Syracuse University Ambulance and the Residential Safety Program throughout the CPA.

This past week, the group learned the basics of a traffic stop and went through scenario training using virtual reality headsets. The group convenes for its final class this Wednesday, when they will graduate from the program. If you are interested in learning more about the CPA, please visit our website.

DPS Social Media

Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to engage with our community. I encourage you to follow us on social media to stay up to date on the exciting things we have planned. We are on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

We will be running a contest after spring break on our Instagram page (@SyracuseDPS) to kick off the home stretch of the semester. On top of that, you will be the first to know when we have upcoming events or important news to share.

Threat Assessment and Management Team Information

The Threat Assessment and Management Team (TAMT) is an interdisciplinary group of trained professional Syracuse University staff convened to evaluate potential threats to our campus community. Many behaviors and circumstances may indicate an increasing risk for violence. Recognizing and reporting early signs of a potentially dangerous situation is crucial to violence prevention.

Therefore, when concerned, you should always get in touch with DPS at 315.443.2224, by emailing or texting 711@syr.edu, by using the Orange Safe app or by completing a Silent Witness report through EthicsPoint. I encourage anyone seeking more information on the TAMT to visit its webpage.

Updates from Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS)

Our CSEMS team continues to achieve great things in 2023. I would like to highlight some of the impressive accomplishments from within the department:

PAL Youth Basketball League

Two of our very own, Quartermaster Joe Dishaw and Officer Nadia Diaz, have volunteered their time to coach a youth basketball team within the Syracuse Police Athletic League (PAL). They worked with a group of third- to fifth-grade girls throughout the past couple of months. The team showed remarkable improvement each week and learned valuable teamwork and leadership skills.

I’m happy to report they ended their season with an impressive win, and the following day the team was able to watch our Syracuse University women’s basketball team knock off Miami inside the JMA Wireless Dome. I’m proud of our coaches and their team on a great season and DPS is looking forward to continuing our relationship with PAL.

Employee of the Month—February 2023

I am pleased to announce that Officer Aidan Welling and Communications Center Coordinator Ben Rinaldi III were selected as our February 2023 Employees of the Month!

Officer Welling is honored for going above and beyond, this was evident by two nominations for two different acts submitted on his behalf. Meanwhile, Rinaldi is honored for his vital efforts in improving the infrastructure of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC). Congratulations to them both!

Preparing Residences for Spring Break

As many of you plan to depart campus for spring break, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to take necessary action to protect your residences, offices, cubicle spaces and belongings. Please review our recommended safety strategies to secure your spaces.

While many members of our community will be heading elsewhere, some will remain around campus. 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 if you observe anything concerning.

Monthly Bias Update

Feb 24: An employee discovered homophobic/anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti in the men’s bathrooms on the third and fourth floors of Watson Hall.

Update: DPS met with the employee and conducted multiple canvasses of Watson Hall. Additionally, DPS has reviewed available video footage, referenced ID card access data, conducted interviews, and notified the Syracuse Police Department and New York State Police. Due to the incident occurring in a restroom, there is no reliable video footage or direct witness accounts. We ask that anyone who may have information about this incident contact us immediately.

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.

I wish you all a safe and restful spring break.

Sincerely,

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety