DPS News

May 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It was wonderful having so many visitors on our campus this past month. Being able to celebrate a successful Commencement weekend was a fantastic end to the semester. As we head into the summer months, I will continue to provide you important updates from the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

In today’s message, I will touch on:

  • R.A.D. Summer Session Sign-Ups Open
  • Peace Officer Academy Update
  • Employee of the Month
  • ICAT Training
  • Bicycle, Scooter and Skateboard Safety
  • Monthly Bias Update

R.A.D. Summer Session Sign-Ups Open

R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. Join the Department of Public Safety for this women-only self-defense course offered exclusively to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff on the following dates:

  • Sunday, June 18
  • Sunday, June 25
  • Sunday, July 9
  • Sunday, July 16

All sessions will be held in the Skybarn on South Campus from 5 to 8 p.m. Faculty and staff have the option to attend with their daughters (anyone 18 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). To learn more and register, visit the DPS website.

Peace Officer Academy Update

I am happy to report that the current group of recruits in our peace officer academy is making excellent progress. Throughout the past several weeks, our recruits have made great strides in their physical fitness training and spent a week going through the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course.

They will continue to tackle many other trainings throughout the next couple of months. For the latest updates from the academy, please follow our Instagram page: @SyracuseDPS.

Employee of the Month: May 2023

I am pleased to share that Office Coordinator Tracy Poushter has been selected as our May 2023 Employee of the Month.

Tracy was selected due to her creation and implementation of a process to digitize and archive administrative files. On top of that, she is extremely flexible with her hours in ways that help our entire operation run smoothly. Congratulations to Tracy!

ICAT Training

DPS is moving forward with ICAT (Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics) training for all sworn personnel. ICAT is a training program developed by the Police Executive Research Forum that provides first responding police officers with the tools, skills and options they need to defuse a range of critical incidents successfully and safely. This initiative was endorsed by the Community Review Board following its review.

Two of our officers became certified instructors in ICAT training earlier this year and thanks to their experience we were able to see how this training would improve DPS. Learn more about ICAT by visiting its training guide webpage.

Bicycle, Scooter and Skateboard Safety

With the warm weather now here, more members of our campus community will utilize additional means of transportation. Please keep these important safety reminders in mind if you use a bicycle, scooter or skateboard:

  • Obey traffic signs and signals; bicycles must follow the rules of the road like other vehicles.
  • Always wear your helmet!

For more safety tips, visit the Safety Strategies webpage.

Monthly Bias Update

May 23: DPS has identified an individual believed to be responsible for targeting students with harassing and biased messages in a Snapchat group chat. Screenshots provided to DPS show a specific Snapchat user targeting students based on race, gender and sexual orientation. The individual in question has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

May 19: A Syracuse University student reported on Oct. 7, 2022; Dec. 10, 2022, and May 3, 2023, that hateful language was overheard at Lawrinson Hall that targeted the LGBTQ+ and Roma communities.

Update: DPS has met with the reporting party to gather additional information. Please contact us if you have any knowledge of these incidents.

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.

Hope everyone has a safe and productive start to the summer!

Sincerely,

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety

DPS Accepting Sign-Ups for R.A.D. Summer Session

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently accepting sign-ups for its R.A.D. summer session. R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. This women-only self-defense course is being offered exclusively to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff on the following dates:

  • Sunday, June 18
  • Sunday, June 25
  • Sunday, July 9
  • Sunday, July 16

“The R.A.D. self-defense program is a pillar of the various trainings that DPS offers to the campus community,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “R.A.D. courses are taught by our nationally certified instructors who cultivate a welcoming environment where safety and self-defense measures are at the forefront.”

All sessions will be held in the Skybarn on South Campus from 5 to 8 p.m. Faculty and staff have the option to attend with their daughters; please note that anyone 18 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To learn more and register, visit the DPS website at dps.syr.edu or contact Michael Patsos at mpatsos@syr.edu.

DPS and Fraternity and Sorority Community Partner for Earth Day Cleanup

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Fraternity and Sorority Affairs partnered for an Earth Day cleanup on April 22, which brought together 10 DPS team members and 128 Greek members from 47 chapters to volunteer their time and effort to clean up the east neighborhood in Syracuse. The cleanup covered Ostrom Pl., Ostrom Ave., Livingston Ave., Sumner Ave., Ackerman Ave, Lancaster Ave., Redfield Pl., Clarendon St., Maryland Ave. and Thornden Park. A full truckload of garbage was picked up and disposed of at Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency’s refuse facility.

The idea for the cleanup event stemmed from Associate Vice President and Chief of DPS Craig Stone, and DPS led the coordination of locations and details. While it was the first time organizing such an event, the turnout and end result left a lasting impression on those involved and an excitement to continue this next year.

“I was immensely impressed with the turnout for the neighborhood cleanup. Over 100 students took time out of their Saturday morning to help make a positive difference for our campus community,” said Stone. “DPS is looking forward to continuing this initiative in the future.”

“Seeing our student volunteers and members of the DPS team work together was awe-inspiring and truly indicative of what it means to be part of the Syracuse University community. This is the first of many Earth Day events sponsored by DPS and we look forward to partnering with Fraternity and Sorority Affairs going forward in regard to this most worthy cause,” added DPS Sergeant John A. Stephens.

Shane Corridore, a junior in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and member of Sigma Alpha Mu, reflected, “The most meaningful part was just seeing how many people decided to be there and help out. The vibe was amazing, and everyone had a good time helping the community.”

“Service is a core value of the fraternity and sorority community, so when DPS approached us with this idea, we knew our chapter members would be eager to volunteer to make a difference in the local area,” said Tiffany Dennett, director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. “We expect this will become a staple of the many service projects our chapters support throughout the year.”

Story by Student Experience communications intern Wanshi Zhang ’23

Public Safety Informational Notice: Vehicle Thefts Under Investigation

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) are actively investigating three reports of vehicle thefts. All three reports were made on Monday, May 1. These thefts occurred at 150 Stadium Place, 614 South Crouse Avenue and 919 East Genesee Street.

We believe these thefts are consistent with a nationwide trend of thieves targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles due to a design flaw that allows these cars to be started without a key. Thieves use a USB cord and a screwdriver to exploit a glitch and jump start the vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia have launched a free service campaign to address this issue. Please review this NHTSA press release for additional information if you own one of these makes.

We ask our community members, particularly those living in off-campus neighborhoods, to remain alert for suspicious activity. Thieves are looking for unlocked car doors and open windows as a mean to gain access to vehicles. So please, make sure your vehicle is locked and always secured.

The Syracuse Police Department (SPD) will be leading these investigations, with the support of DPS officers. Please contact SPD at 315.442.5222 or DPS at 315.443.2224 if you have any information regarding these recent car thefts. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

This public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.

How DPS Communicates in the Event of an Imminent Threat to Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

I am writing to make you aware of a disturbing and recent trend affecting schools, colleges and universities known as “swatting.” Swatting is when an anonymous caller makes an intentionally false report of the presence of an active shooter. Syracuse University experienced a case of swatting last night.

Some of you may have observed posts on social media claiming there was a shooter on our campus. When we learned of this claim, our officers in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) immediately responded to the report’s location where they confirmed the report was unfounded. Simultaneously, we were in touch with our local law enforcement partners who confirmed the report was similar in nature and origin to other swatting calls that have occurred in New York state and elsewhere.

I recognize the threat of an active shooter situation is all too real in the United States, particularly in light of today’s tragedy in Louisville, Kentucky, and other recent mass shootings in our country. As your police chief, it is my responsibility to ensure you are and feel safe on this campus. Part of that responsibility is having an emergency notification process in place that clearly communicates to our community when a threat to public safety is present. It is also my responsibility to prevent panic when no threat exists.

Notification Methods: Orange Alert System

In the event of an active shooter situation, you will receive immediate communications from DPS. These communications will be made via the Orange Alert System. Orange Alert provides rapid notification and instructions to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students in the event of a verified crisis in which an immediate threat of physical harm exists.

We reserve the use of this system for situations where there is an active or imminent threat of physical danger to our campus community. That is because when you receive an Orange Alert, we need you to know to take immediate action as directed. Orange Alert will leverage the following communications methods:

  • email;
  • text messaging;
  • social media networks;
  • cell/landline phone calls to send a brief notice about the incident and instructions about what actions to take; and
  • sirens that sound on North Campus and South Campus.

After an Orange Alert message is broadcasted, more detailed follow-up information will be provided until it is determined the threat has been eliminated.

Sign Up in MySlice

To receive the emergency communications, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to log in to MySlice to ensure their contact information for Orange Alert is up to date. It is important to note that to receive text message notifications your cell phone number must be designated as a mobile device.

My colleagues and I are always available to discuss our processes, protocols and how we collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement to keep our campus community safe. Finally, remember that the Department of Public Safety is here for you 24/7 by calling 315.443.2224 or by connecting on the Orange Safe app.

Sincerely,

Craig A. Stone
Associate Vice President and Chief
Department of Public Safety

Community Police Academy Graduates a New Class

On March 8, members of the campus community graduated from the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) community police academy (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, participants learned from guest presenters, including certified instructors from DPS, Fire and Life Safety Services, Residential Safety Program and Syracuse University Ambulance.

The CPA culminated in a graduation ceremony where the graduates were presented with “Stop the Bleed” and CPA graduation certificates from Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “Building trust with our campus community is something that we are constantly focused on,” says Chief Stone. “The CPA has been a successful tool in helping strengthen the bonds with our community. I am grateful to both classes of the CPA that have graduated this academic year.”

Feedback from the CPA graduates about how the program was run was encouraging to see. Anne O’Connor, student support assistant in the School of Education, believes the CPA allowed her to have a better understanding of how DPS operates. “Now I know how things flow within DPS, especially in terms of jurisdiction and who can help me in what type of situation,” says O’Connor. “It also showed how many people are really involved to ensure the welfare and safety of every person on campus.”

Officer George Wazen, coordinator of the CPA, is encouraged by the growth he has seen with the program during its first year. “We are so fortunate that our campus community is enthusiastic about this initiative. We were able to increase our number of applicants and our number of graduates from our first CPA that was run in October,” says Wazen. Continuing to improve and expand the CPA is priority number one. “Our team is already hard at work with how we can continue to evolve the program for the future.,” he says.

O’Connor believes the CPA is not just for those who have an interest in law enforcement. “Even if you don’t necessarily have an interest in the police force, this program gave a lot more insight on how to be safe, and the right steps to take in case of any emergency on or off campus,” she says.

Dates for the next CPA during the Fall 2023 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.

DPS Welcomes New Wave of Recruits for Campus Peace Officer Academy

Five new recruits were sworn into the Syracuse University campus peace officer academy on Thursday, March 9, by Syracuse Police 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 authority to enforce New York State law and local ordinances upon completion of the academy.

The recruits sworn into this academy class are:

  • Dre Everson
  • Montague Kreis
  • Samantha Nagen
  • Johnathon Wazen
  • Pised Yoeun

The five individuals listed above are training to become Syracuse University campus peace officers. Three additional recruits are joining this peace officer academy and will be heading to Ithaca College upon completion.

“They will be tested throughout the next several months, but through hard work and dedication, they will become a part of something special,” said Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director. This is now the seventh time that the Department of Public Safety has held its own peace officer academy.

During the next several months, 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 a group that wants to join our team and serve the campus community, we will support these recruits in every way we can,” 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.

April 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe we have reached the final weeks of the spring semester. I hope it has been a rewarding and enjoyable year for all of you at Syracuse University. Please stay safe as the semester winds down.

In my last update of the semester, I will touch on:

  • DPS Game Night Giveaway
  • R.A.D. Summer Session Sign-Ups Open
  • Earth Day Clean-Up
  • Employees of the Month
  • Safety Strategies
  • Monthly Bias Update

DPS Game Night Giveaway

Our final DPS game night of the semester is this Wednesday, May 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Schine Student Center. I hope you’ll consider joining us to celebrate a successful semester of game nights. We will be running a giveaway contest—stop by our table at game night to find out how you can win a Syracuse University jersey or even your own SpikeBall set! Be sure to mark your calendar and follow us on social media for more information @SyracuseDPS.

R.A.D. Summer Session Sign-Ups Open

R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. The program uses realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for individuals who want to learn such techniques. The R.A.D. system is a comprehensive course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, and progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training.

Join the Department of Public Safety for a women-only self-defense course offered exclusively to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff on the following dates:

  • Sunday, June 18
  • Sunday, June 25
  • Sunday, July 9
  • Sunday, July 16

All sessions will be held in the Skybarn on South Campus from 5 to 8 p.m. Faculty and staff have the option to attend with their daughters (anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). To learn more and register, visit the DPS website.

Earth Day Clean-Up

In celebration of Earth Day, DPS partnered with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to organize a neighborhood clean-up. The turnout was outstanding, with more than 100 students taking time out of their Saturday morning to help make a positive difference for our campus community. DPS is looking forward to continuing this initiative in the future. To learn more about the clean-up, please visit our Instagram page: @SyracuseDPS.

Employees of the Month—April 2023

I am pleased to share that Community Service Officer (CSO) Martha Farmer and Officer Greg Scheurer have been selected as our April 2023 Employees of the Month.

CSO Farmer was selected because of the countless times she has gone above and beyond for the campus community during her 15 years with us. She is always looking out for other team members, making sure to help in any way she can. She thoroughly enjoys getting to know the students, chatting with parents and families, and working athletics events. CSO Farmer was even personally invited by the students to attend the department graduation at Peck Hall this year. It is great to see our staff connecting with the campus community.

Meanwhile, Officer Scheurer was instrumental in resolving two recent cases. These include a larceny case in Bird Library and the successful resolution of a bias incident in Watson Hall. In one case, Officer Scheurer responded to a larceny in progress at Bird Library and was able to locate and arrest the suspect. In the second case, Officer Scheurer responded to Watson Hall regarding a bias incident, conducted a thorough investigation and was able to locate the student/suspect that made a derogatory remark. I am proud of Officer Scheurer’s efforts and appreciate his commitment to the safety and well-being of our campus community.

Congratulations to this month’s honorees.

Safety Strategies

As the semester wraps up and the weather gets nicer, I want to remind you all that we usually see an uptick in crime. It is essential to remain vigilant to ensure a safe and secure environment over the next couple of weeks. I’d like to remind you of some steps you can take to keep yourself and your property safe.

  • Lock your doors and windows, even if you are going to be away for just a short period of time.
  • Hide or lock up your valuables; do not leave them where criminals can easily see them.
  • Remind your roommates to take the same action.
  • Remain vigilant.

For more safety tips, visit the Safety Strategies webpage.

Monthly Bias Update

March 27: A University employee reported the theft of two flags, the Haudenosaunee flag and the LGBTQ+ flag. The flags were among those flown on flag poles on the Quad outside of Hendricks Chapel.

Update: Through extensive review of video footage DPS was able to follow a lead that successfully resulted in the return of the flags from a non-affiliate. The flags were also returned with Syracuse University branded banners, which were also stolen during the incident.

April 13: A Lawrinson Hall resident advisor reported that a resident received a note that was slid under their door that included a homophobic/anti-LGBTQ+ slur.

Update: Additional interviews have been conducted. We continue to investigate and request that anyone who may have information about this incident contact us.

April 21: A Syracuse University student reported receiving a hateful message from an unknown user via Facebook messenger. The message contained hateful language targeting the Hindu religion.

Update: DPS officers met with the student to gather additional information. Support resources and services were offered to the student. DPS is continuing to investigate the origin of the message, which at this time remains unknown. We ask that anyone who may have information about this incident contact us.

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.

Thank you all for making my first full year in Syracuse such a rewarding experience. I am already looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces back here in August. Lastly, to the Class of 2023, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Craig A. Stone
Associate Vice President and Chief
Department of Public Safety