DPS News

Public Safety Informational Notice: DPS Urges Campus Community to be Aware of Off-Campus Crime

In response to recent incidents that occurred in off-campus neighborhoods, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) are urging the Syracuse University and surrounding communities to be aware of their surroundings and take actions necessary to keep themselves and their property safe. In addition to encouraging vigilance among our community, DPS has increased its presence and patrols in the affected areas, as well as in other adjacent neighborhoods.

The recent incidents, all of which involved students, include three assaults, two robberies, and an occupied burglary, respectively, and occurred in the following areas:

  • Assault on Friday, November 3, near the 100 block of Stratford St., around 4:30 p.m.
  • Occupied burglary on Sunday, November 5, near the 700 block of Ostrom Ave., around 12:40 a.m.
  • Assault on Sunday, November 5, near the 700 block of Ostrom Ave., around 2:00 a.m.
  • Assault on Monday, November 6, near the 100 block of Stratford St., around 4:30 p.m.
  • Robbery on Monday, November 6, near the 1000 block of Comstock Ave., around 10:10 p.m.
  • Robbery on Monday, November 6, near the 400 block of Stratford St., around 10:30 p.m.

At this time, it is unclear if the incidents are connected. If you were in the vicinity at the time and witnessed any of these incidents, please contact SPD at 315.442.5222 or DPS at 315.443.2224. 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.

September 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe that October is already upon us. Our campus has been host to many exciting events throughout the beginning of the fall semester and I appreciate our campus community’s focus on safety.

Listed below are some brief updates from the Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services team including:

  • National Coffee With a Cop Day
  • Bicycle Safety and Security
  • Orange Safe Giveaway
  • FEMA Nationwide Emergency Alert Test
  • Resources From ITS
  • Employee of the Month
  • Monthly Bias Update

National Coffee With a Cop Day

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 4, is National Coffee With a Cop Day. Our officers will be out in front of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices in Sims Hall from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. serving free coffee, hot chocolate, tea and cookies. We will be giving away 20 U-bolt locks (on a first-come, first-served basis) and have a bicycle, scooter and skateboard registration station set up! Stop by to engage with the DPS team and share any feedback you have.

If you can’t make this event, don’t worry! Check out our event listings or follow us on social media for information on upcoming DPS events.

Bicycle Safety and Security

There has been an increase in bicycle thefts this fall, and DPS wants to remind you of proactive steps you can take to better secure your bicycle, scooter or skateboard:

  • Use a U-bolt locking device.
  • Register your bicycle, scooter or skateboard with DPS through the online form.
  • Do NOT leave your bicycle, scooter or skateboard unattended if it is not secured.

Our team recently apprehended a repeat offender partially responsible for the uptick in bicycle thefts, but please remain vigilant. Be on the lookout for in-person registration events by following us on social media.

Orange Safe Giveaway

We are celebrating 10,000 downloads of the Orange Safe app with a giveaway to some who have downloaded the app. To enter, visit the pinned post on our Instagram and follow the instructions in the caption for a chance to win.

If you haven’t downloaded Orange Safe yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. Orange Safe is a free app that provides several tools designed to keep you safe. Users can stay connected and receive important campus notifications, communicate with campus safety and gain access to resources needed most. To learn more and download today, visit our website at dps.syr.edu.

FEMA Nationwide Emergency Alert Test

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts on, Wednesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET.

This test will be directed to all consumer cell phones as well as through radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and wireline video providers. In case the test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Wednesday, Oct. 11. For more information on the test, please see the FEMA press release.

Resources From ITS

Email phishing scams, hoaxes, fake websites, spam and sundry schemes that hackers and identity thieves use to trick people into revealing bank account and credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and other confidential information is on the rise. Information Technology Services (ITS) wants to help the Orange community be aware of best practices around safe computing. Review these five tips from the ITS team to better protect yourself online.

Employee of the Month

Officer Liztazia Ramirez-Stephens has been selected as our August 2023 Employee of the Month. Officer Ramirez-Stephens is being recognized for her response and support in assisting with a serious line of duty injury suffered by a fellow DPS officer. Congratulations on a job well done!

Monthly Bias Update

Sept. 17: A resident on the 10th floor of Brewster Hall reported discovering antisemitic graffiti drawn on the whiteboard hanging on their door.

Update: Our team conducted a thorough canvass of the floor, interviewed multiple individuals and reviewed video, but we have no leads at this time. If you, or anyone you know, witnessed or has knowledge regarding this incident, we ask that you reach out to us right away.

As a reminder, if we do have additional updates they will be posted on the chart on our website and we’ll share any developments in this monthly email.

It is never too late to come forward with information on any bias incident or crime. 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

Public Safety Informational Notice: Off-Campus Robberies

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) are investigating two off-campus robberies involving Syracuse University students that occurred within the past 24 hours. The incidents occurred at the intersection of Stratford Street and Lancaster Avenue and the intersection of Marshall Street and Walnut Avenue.

The incidents were reported to have occurred between the hours of 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 and 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 29. Though it’s early in the investigation, the incidents are believed to be connected based on the suspect description and the make and model of the vehicle. The suspects in both incidents are described as three to four males driving a black four-door sedan. The suspects assaulted the victims before stealing items of value and fleeing the scene; one student sustained injuries. Syracuse University is providing services to impacted students.

SPD will be leading the investigation, with the support of DPS officers. If you were in the vicinity at the time and witnessed either incident, please contact SPD at 315.442.5222 or DPS at 315.443.2224. 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.

Department of Public Safety to Conduct a Test of the Orange Alert Campus Crisis Alert Notification System on Wednesday, Sept. 20

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will conduct a test of the Orange Alert Campus Crisis Alert Notification System on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 1:55 p.m. It will be a full test of the system, which includes notifications sent via email, text message and voice call. The test will also include the Orange Alert outdoor siren system on the University’s North and South campuses. The sirens will be activated for two minutes at 1:55 p.m.

In addition to email, text and voice messages, the Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the Orange Safe app, to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and Twitter accounts, and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

The Orange Alert message will be sent to all Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) students and to SUNY ESF faculty and staff who have signed up. Orange Alert will send a notice to all devices that are registered on the system.

“As we do every semester, it is time for us to do a full-scale test of the Orange Alert System,” says William Karnadi, director of emergency management and business continuity planning. “Ahead of the test on Wednesday, please go into your MySlice account and verify that your contact information is up to date. This includes making sure that your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device, so that you receive our text messages.”

To review and/or modify your Orange Alert contact information, go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home, depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and review your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link. If you are an ESF student, use the ESF emergency contact information page to update your information.

For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit the DPS website.

Summer of Community Engagement for DPS

Engaging with the campus community is a main priority for the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS); however, the desire to connect and have meaningful interactions extends well beyond the borders of campus. Throughout the summer, DPS collaborated with numerous partners to partake in two summer programs that brought local high school students to the Syracuse University campus to learn and work alongside the DPS team.

“Syracuse University is a pillar in the local community,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “DPS has increased our community engagement on campus and the community at large. Our team enjoyed spending time with our youth and exposing them to opportunities at Syracuse University.”

Each program provided a unique experience to the local high school students who participated.

Summer Internship Program

DPS proudly took part in the University’s Summer Internship program hosted by the Office of Community Engagement in collaboration with the Syracuse City School District Career and Technical Education program.

Rising high school seniors participated in this six-week work opportunity that aligned them with their chosen learning pathway. Throughout the six weeks, the three student interns interacted with the entire Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS) team, rotating between different units.

Summer Internship Coordinator for DPS, Commander Michael Hartnett, was thrilled by the work of the interns, “The three young women that took part in our summer internship program were exceptional. They accomplished so much throughout the summer and helped our CSEMS team tackle various projects.”

The three interns were recognized at the end of the six weeks with a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments alongside other interns who spent time with various other departments at the University.

Youth Leadership Camp

Our first annual Youth Leadership Camp ran throughout July. This was yet again another collaboration with the Syracuse City School District and their Career and Technical Education program, which brought rising ninth graders to campus for four days. The students participated in an expansive curriculum, including learning sessions that focused on life, career and education skills. The group also got out of the classroom to tour campus, see the athletics facilities, use the esports gaming room, try virtual reality law enforcement scenarios and learn how to use a fire extinguisher.

“I am thankful for all of the instructors and other groups that we collaborated with on our first ever Youth Leadership Camp,” says Youth Leadership Camp Coordinator Sergeant John Stephens, “Above all, I am grateful to the group of students that spent the week with us; hopefully, they learned some new skills they can put to use as they begin high school.”

The Office of Community Engagement and Government Relations was also a key partner in making the Youth Leadership Camp a reality. DPS is already evaluating ways to expand and grow the program for next summer.

“I’m extremely proud of the initiatives our team at DPS took on this summer,” says Stone. “We will continue to find ways to engage with the community and craft programming that will make a positive impact in their development.”