As required by The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”), the 2020 edition of Your Safety and Security at Syracuse University is now online and can be found by visiting dps.syr.edu/annual-security-report/.
DPS News
Syracuse University Department of Public Safety Receives National Accrediation
Today, Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer Amir Rahnamay-Azar announced that on November 13, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) voted to recommend that the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) be accredited for a period of four years. CALEA accreditation is the the gold standard for public safety and law enforcement in the nation.
The CALEA accreditation process provides public safety departments with an opportunity to prove that they meet the highest professional standards in law enforcement, and require:
- Comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities
- Reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions
- Preparedness to address natural or man-made critical incidents
- Community relationship-building and maintenance
- Independent review by subject matter experts
- Continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures
This fall, CALEA assessors reviewed all DPS polices and procedures, reviewed proof of compliance with the procedures, and held a public hearing regarding the department’s performance. Accreditation signifies that DPS has proven that its policies and procedures meet CALEA’s comprehensive standards and that DPS has provided proof of compliance with those policies, procedures, and standards. CALEA standards are developed by expert public safety practitioners covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives for law enforcement. This achievement is rare amongst law enforcement agencies.
“There are currently 743 CALEA accredited law enforcement agencies, only 66 of which are higher education public safety departments, and DPS is one of only 11 CALEA-accredited law enforcement agencies in New York State,” said DPS Detective Christopher Wood, who managed the accreditation process.
“We are honored to have received this accreditation from CALEA. It would have not been possible without the hard work and diligence of all members of the department,” said DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado. “We’re grateful to Detective Wood and his team for updating our policies and procedures, and compiling the reports and records required to meet the standards set forth by CALEA.”
DPS will need to demonstrate continued proof of standards compliance with the CALEA commission on an annual basis. In addition, a formal review for reaccreditation with CALEA will take place in Summer 2024.
While this is first time DPS has received accreditation from CALEA, in 2015, DPS achieved accreditation by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), and was reaccredited in 2019. These standards focus on public safety and law enforcement at institutions of higher education. The dual accreditation is rare and a testament to the professionalism of DPS and its staff, said Senior Vice President and Chief Law Enforcement Officer Tony Callisto. DPS is one of only 27 dual CALEA/IACLEA accredited campus public safety agencies nationwide and the only one in New York State.
About CALEA: The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations. The CALEA Accreditation program seals are reserved for use by those public safety agencies that have demonstrated compliance with CALEA Standards and have been awarded CALEA Accreditation by the Commission.
December 2020 Monthly Bias Incident Report
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope that you are staying safe and healthy as the fall semester comes to a close.
I am writing to provide our monthly report on bias incidents that have occurred on our campus. Since my last update, there have been no new developments on previous reports. Future updates will be posted on the table that we have created on the Department of Public Safety (DPS) website.
To report a bias incident, please contact DPS directly at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information to DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool or submit anonymous tips via the LiveSafe app. Any bias-motivated incident reported to DPS will be posted on our public site, so that our campus community can remain informed. You can also report a bias incident and receive support through theSTOP Bias website.
You may subscribe to receive bias incident reports on the Department of Public Safety website.
Sincerely,
Bobby Maldonado
Chief, Department of Public Safety
Public Safety Informational Notice: Off-Campus & South Campus Burglaries
The Syracuse Police Department (SPD) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) are investigating a string of burglaries that have occurred recently in the east campus neighborhood and on South Campus. The alleged burglars have entered properties through unlocked windows and doors.
To enhance your safety and protect your personal space and belongings, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Lock all exterior doors and windows – even when you are home.
- Report all suspicious people, activity and behavior immediately.
- Store valuable items in secure places and lock interior doors when you are out.
- Record serial numbers of electronic equipment.
If anyone has any information regarding these incidents or others, please contact the SPD at 315.442.5222 for off-campus incidents and DPS at 315.443.2224 for South Campus incidents. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information to DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.
If you or someone you know has been affected by an incident on or near campus, please know that there are resources available to you. In addition, for your safety, please review these suggested safety strategies.
DPS Emergency Communications Center Joins Onondaga County Dispatch System
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has made the transition to a new dispatch system, which will increase interoperability between the department and other emergency responders in Onondaga County.
The new system, known as Hexagon, ties DPS operations into the Onondaga County computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and allows the department to utilize the same mobile software as other local law enforcement agencies. The transition to the new system also allows DPS to make use of the same police records management system as its local counterparts, which stores all incident-related information in one place.
To read the entire article, visit news.syr.edu.