DPS News

Take A Tour Of The Emergency Communications Center

ECCThis photo is stationed at the back of our Emergency Communications Center (ECC) – with Communications Center Coordinator Mateo Tarrats visible at the computer desk to the right.

Each desk station like the one where Mateo is sitting has a radio dock, with a radio system used to reach our officers out in the field, two phones to handle high call volume and our escort, dispatch and emergency lines, and five computer screens.

On the computer screens, Communications Officers have access to real-time alarm monitoring systems (for fire alarms and door alarms, which are tripped when someone holds a door on a university building open for too long after hours). The door system is electronically managed and timed differently for each day of the week.

On another screen, dispatchers keep CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch, which time-stamps calls for service, and runs a list of officers on duty, keeping track of who’s doing what in real time. They also have access to an intranet with numerous databases – the most important of which is an electronic phone and ID directory (with emergency contacts) of all SU students, staff, and faculty.

The televisions on the far wall show a live-synced list of Syracuse Police Department calls, University security camera feeds, and national news programs. Here’s a little-known fact about Dispatch: All camera feeds and phone calls are automatically recorded for later reference, and are time-stamped to monitor response time.

Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comments

A team of Assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on Sunday, January 25, 2015 to examine all aspects of the Department of Public Safety’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, Interim Chief Jill Lentz announced today.

Verification that the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety meets IACLEA’S state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly-prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

Syracuse University employees, DPS employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 315-443-0131 on Monday, January 26, 2015, between the hours of 10:00am and 12:00pm.

Comments will be taken by members of the Assessment Team, not DPS personnel.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Department of Public Safety, 005 Sims Hall, located at 130 College Place on the Syracuse University campus.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Department of Public Safety’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA, 342 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06117-2507.

The Department of Public Safety must comply with 239 standards in order to achieve accredited status. The DPS undertook the challenge of gaining accreditation for a number of reasons. Accreditation provides a professional benchmark with which to measure policies and procedures. It also ensures those practices are well-documented, Department personnel receive clear guidance, and qualified personnel are recruited and retained long-term.

Moreover, the process may serve to assure the University administration, University community, and other local law enforcement agencies of the quality of DPS services.

The Accreditation Manager for the Department of Public Safety is Andrea Stagnari. She said the Assessment Team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from in-state and out-of-state. The Assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed. The Assessors are: Captain Gary Heller, Amtrak Police Department, Team Leader; Sergeant Kevin Roberto (Ret.), University of Connecticut Police Department; Assistant Director Stacy DeRooy, Rochester Institute of Technology. Once the Assessors complete their review of the DPS, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the Department will be granted accredited status.

Accreditation is for four (4) years, during which the Department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

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Public Safety Notice: Off Campus Robbery, 1/27/2015

For the protection and safety of SU students, faculty, staff and neighbors, the Department of Public Safety releases the following alert:

Off Campus Robbery

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm

SPD Case # 15-134841

1200 Block of East Adams Street

A student reported being robbed by two unknown males in the 1200 Block of E. Adams Street, between Comstock Ave and Walnut Ave. The student reports she was walking alone westbound on E. Adams Street when she was approached by the suspects. One of the suspects pushed the student to the ground and stole her satchel containing money. No weapons were displayed.

Bingham, Haley Honored At CNYACOP Awards

Central Chiefs Awards & Press Event 057Officer John Bingham and Officer Kevin Haley will be honored tonight at the annual Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police Awards Ceremony. Officer Bingham will receive a Law Enforcement Commendation Award and Officer Haley will be presented with a Heroic Action Award for his response to a South Campus fire in March 2011. Jessica Wilkerson, a SU senior, will be one of three civilians at the ceremony, and will be presented with the Citizen Commendation Award, for her actions during an in-progress crime at Haven Hall.

Bingham:

Throughout 2011 Officer Bingham was instrumental in solving several serious in-progress crimes, suspicious persons, and traffic enforcement complaints on and around Syracuse University. I would like to highlight three of Officer Bingham’s investigations in 2011.

On October 8, 2011 Officer Bingham located and observed a suspicious vehicle that the vehicle had a handgun in it. After making notifications, he then assisted the Syracuse Police in keeping surveillance on the vehicle until the occupants returned. Officer Bingham’s then proceeded to assist the Syracuse Police in a felony traffic stop at the intersection of Euclid Ave and Lancaster Ave that subsequently led to the arrest of one individual for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

On Sunday, October 9, 2011 near the 1200 block of Harrison Street and on October 26, 2011 in the 700 block of Westcott Street Officer Bingham responded to a robbery that just occurred. Officer Bingham’s swift response to the calls, ability to work with the Syracuse Police Department led to the quick arrest of the suspects in both robberies without further incidents. In both cases information was developed during the continuing investigation which led to the recovery of weapons, controlled substances and stolen property.

For his actions in responding to the incidents, and his collaborative efforts with officers and supervisors from the Syracuse Police Department, John Bingham is award the Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Commendation Award.

Haley:

During the early morning hours of March 29, 2011 Officer Haley was dispatched to a complaint of a fire at a student apartment on Farm Acre Road at Syracuse University’s South Campus.

Working with other members of the patrol division, Officer Haley responded to the fire scene, assisted in extinguishing the fire and searched for any residents that may have still been inside the structure.

While other officers were attempting to evacuate the remainder of the apartments attached to the building that the fire was located in, Officer Haley fought the fire with extinguishers from inside the structure, which was full of smoke and fire.

Officer Haley was able to extinguish the fire, assist other officers in the evacuation of all residents who may have been in harm’s way, prevent any injuries and prevent any further damage to the building or other personal property.

For his actions, Officer Kevin Haley is awarded the Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police “Heroic Action Award”.

Wilkerson:

On Sunday, March 25, Jessica Wilkerson, a Resident Advisor at Syracuse University, intervened in an in-progress forcible touching incident at a residence hall. A male student entered the hall’s main lobby and grabbed a female student.

Ms. Wilkerson heard the female student screaming for help. She pushed the male away and assisted in keeping the male in the lobby until campus peace officers arrived, after which she gave a witness statement to the responding officers. The male student was arrested.

For her selfless actions, Jessica Wilkerson is awarded the CNYACOP Citizen’s Commendation Award

Complaint Form

DPS Will Conduct Training Exercise On South Campus July 29

The Department of Public Safety will be conducting a training exercise on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 in the 100 block of Winding Ridge Rd. on South Campus.

Between 8:30 am and 11:00 am the 100 block of Winding Ridge Rd. will be closed to vehicular traffic, to provide a secure setting for a training simulation, staging an artificial accident.

Emergency personnel and vehicles from the  Syracuse Police and Fire Departments, Syracuse University and Rural Metro Ambulances, Environmental Health & Safety Services, Risk Management/Emergency Management and the Department of Public Safety will be participating in the training simulation and the equipment being used will create moderate noise.  News Services will cover the event.   Emergency personnel and vehicles will be staged at the Manley Field House south parking prior to the event.

Signage will be posted in the area to further inform the community of this planned training exercise. The Department of Public Safety thanks you for your attention and your patience. As always, in a true emergency situation we’re just a phone call away. You can reach us 24/7 at 315-443-2224.