Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I can hardly believe we are nearing the midway point of the spring semester. As we head into spring break, all of us at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) would like to wish those of you departing campus safe travels. We look forward to welcoming you back and finishing the semester off strong!
In today’s message, I will address the following topics:
- Awareness of Threats Online
- Community Police Academy Graduation
- DPS Social Media
- Employee of the Month – January 2024
- Preparing Residences for Spring Break
- Monthly Bias Update
Awareness of Threats Online
DPS has seen an increase in online crimes and scams. We would like to remind our campus community to be wary of any online activity that asks for personal information, payment, etc. Do not hesitate to contact us if you see or receive something suspicious.
Phishing scams disguised as account termination warnings, job offers or requests for help circulate among the University community from time to time. Please remember that Information Technology Services (ITS) will never ask for your password or multi-factor authentication code. Any communication asking for this type of information should be deleted. You can learn more by visiting the ITS Phish Bowl.
Community Police Academy Graduation
I am pleased to share that our fourth and largest Community Police Academy (CPA) officially wrapped up this week. This iteration of the CPA saw 33 members of our campus community graduate from the program. The CPA is an excellent way to continue to build trust with our community. It has given participants 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 and Syracuse University Ambulance throughout the CPA. If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website.
DPS Social Media
Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to engage with our campus community. I encourage all of you to follow us on social media to stay up to date on the exciting things we have planned. We are on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn. On top of that, you will be the first to know when we have upcoming events or important news to share.
Employee of the Month – January 2024
I am pleased to announce that Assistant Manager Brian O’Hara of Fire and Life Safety Services and Officer Simon Stikkel were selected as our January 2024 Employees of the Month!
O’Hara was honored for his role in providing lifesaving efforts to an individual who suffered a medical event during a Syracuse University men’s basketball game. Stikkel was also honored for his efforts in quickly recovering stolen DPS property. 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 strategiesabout how to secure your spaces.
While many community members are 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
There are no new updates to share. 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.
Go Orange!
Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety
Student Experience Division