DPS News

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.

Public Safety Informational Notice – Preparing Residences for Spring Break

As spring break rapidly approaches many of you will depart our campus during the next couple of days. The Department of Public Safety is reminding the University community to take the necessary steps to protect your residences and belongings before you leave.

For those of you who live on campus, please take the following steps to secure your space:

  • Secure doors and windows.
  • Close all curtains/blinds.
  • Make sure to lock your door.
  • Unplug all electrical items, except refrigerators.
  • Do not give your keys out.
  • Mark/engrave all items of value and keep a record including serial numbers.
  • Do not leave credit cards, checkbooks, cash or other valuables readily accessible; these can be taken and used by a thief before you know they are gone. ​​​​​​​

If you live off campus, please:

  • Make your residence appear occupied; consider buying a timer that automatically turns on interior and exterior lights at a predetermined time, or when there is motion.
  • Be sure your outdoor lighting is working and sufficient.
  • Lock sliding glass doors and place a wooden dowel or metal bar in the track of the door.
  • Take anything valuable home with you, i.e. laptop computer, video game console, jewelry, etc.
  • Do not leave any valuable items near windows.
  • Take pictures of anything valuable and ensure that you have installed tracking software and documented the serial numbers of all electronic devices.
  • Unplug all electrical items, except your refrigerator and timers.
  • If you have a security alarm, make sure you turn it on when leaving.

If you see anything suspicious, for on-campus, please call DPS at 315.443.2224 or use the Orange Safe app or for off-campus, call the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5111.

For those of you who may be traveling for leisure or an academic experience over the break, be mindful of a few travel safety resources:

  • The Covid-19 pandemic can still disrupt travel plans. Be sure to consider where and how you will isolate should you test positive during your trip. If you are traveling internationally be sure to check local rules and guidelines. Please review traveler resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • As always, additional travel resources are available to you from our Global Safety and Support team on the student experience page.
    Even during the spring break, 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.

As always, our recommended safety strategies can be found on our website.

Wishing you all safe travels and a restful spring break.

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.

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

Bias Incident Reporting, Communication, Resources and Services

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As we reach the midpoint of the Spring 2023 semester, we want to remind our community of the processes we follow as it relates to bias incident reporting, how we communicate and the resources and services available to support individuals impacted by bias.

Recent Bias Incident

This reminder is especially timely as late last week, a bias complaint was reported to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) after homophobic/anti-LGBTQ+ language was found in Watson Hall. Under the standard bias incident reporting protocol, incidents reported directly to DPS and that implicate possible criminal acts are published on the DPS Bias Incident Reports webpage within 48 hours. However, as noted on this webpage, DPS has discretion to refrain from publicly posting if posting would potentially impede or jeopardize an active investigation. The Watson Hall incident is an example of why we have this exception in place. While we cannot provide specific details on the investigation, DPS is aggressively following a lead that has resulted in a person of interest being interviewed. More information on this incident is posted on the Bias Incidents Reports webpage.

We recognize that when bias incidents occur, our community members want information quickly. Since our goal in these moments is identifying individuals responsible and holding them accountable, there are occasions where we will need to delay sharing information in order to conduct a swift and successful investigation. Our priority will always be providing care and support to anyone affected by bias behavior and conduct and connecting impacted individuals to resources and services.

Communications Processes

Included below is a summary explaining how and why DPS uses emergency notification and public safety messages. This includes how, when and via what channels we issue safety communications. Regardless of the incident or situation, we will always prioritize the safety of our campus community.

When we issue broad communications:

  • When there is an active or imminent threat of physical danger to the campus community.
  • When there is an active crime scene on or immediately adjacent to the campus and we need community members to avoid the area.
  • When a perpetrator is at large on or immediately adjacent to the campus and we need the community’s help locating the individual.

When we will not issue broad communications:

  • When initial investigation into an incident indicates there is no continuing threat.
  • When another law enforcement agency has jurisdiction or is the lead investigator on an active case, and we have been directed not to issue a notice. That agency may communicate to the broader public and direct us to inform our community.
  • When communicating broadly will impede or jeopardize an active investigation. Please note: Although it is our intention to communicate in a timely manner, we will always prioritize maintaining the integrity of an investigation, especially when we are following active leads.
  • Bias incidents are not emailed campuswide; instead, they are posted on the Bis Incident Reports web page. Individuals can subscribe to receive these reports by visiting the DPS Bias Incident Reports web page and submitting your email address where it reads “Subscribe to Reports.”

Reporting a Crime or Bias Incident

To report a crime or bias incident to DPS, please call us immediately at 315.443.2224, toll-free at 855.443.2224, by dialing 711 from a campus landline or via the Emergency Contacts button on the Orange Safe app. If you would like to anonymously report non-emergency information to DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

We understand that not everyone is comfortable reporting a bias incident to law enforcement. Instead, you can report it via the STOP Bias and Hate website. Please note: only bias incidents reported to DPS are posted on the Bias Incident Reports web page. We are, however, currently working with campus stakeholders to determine the best method for providing information about incidents that are reported through STOP Bias and Hate. Often, individuals reporting through STOP Bias and Hate will elect to remain confidential or request their submission be handled without law enforcement. Also, not all bias incidents involve potential criminal activity, and are thus handled through the Office of Community Standards or other University offices.

Bias Resources and Services

The following offices/spaces on campus are available to provide support to those who may have experienced or been impacted by a bias-related incident on or off campus:

As a learning community, we are constantly striving to create an environment where every member is and feels welcome, respected and valued. We will continue to take action to educate and prevent bias motivated behavior and respond to incidents in a way that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our campus community.

Sincerely,

Allen Groves, Chief Student Experience Officer
Sheriah Dixon, Dean of Students
Craig Stone, Chief, Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services