DPS News

DPS Campus Peace Officer Academy Graduates a New Class

On Aug. 16, the families, friends and colleagues of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Peace Officer Academy recruits gathered to celebrate their graduation from the program. The ceremony, held at Shemin Auditorium, was an opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments, but also look forward to the journey that awaits them.

“I challenge these new campus public safety officers to go out into the community every day and build trust with the people they serve. Congratulations graduates,” said Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the Department of Public Safety during the graduation ceremony.

To read the full article, visit news.syr.edu.

July 2024 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

In anticipation of the start of a new academic year, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) team has been hard at work preparing for your arrival. We are very much looking forward to greeting you in the next couple of weeks.

I have several important topics I would like to address this month in our update, including the following

  • Youth Leadership Camp
  • CALEA Accreditation
  • Training
  • Employee of the Month
  • Monthly Bias Update

Youth Leadership Camp

DPS held its second annual Youth Leadership Camp for rising ninth graders from the Syracuse City School District the week of July 15. The camp is designed to prepare rising ninth graders for high school and provide them with the skills to be successful in life.

We appreciate the Office of Government and Community Relations for being a sponsor of the camp; Bill Coplin, professor of policy studies in the Maxwell School for instructing the students in Skills Win: A Program to Improve Basic Career and Citizenship Skills; and all the volunteer students, faculty and staff who assisted with the camp.

CALEA Accreditation

Over the past three years, with a goal of seeking advanced accreditation, outside assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) have been reviewing our policies and procedures for compliance.

In July 2024, the team lead assessor, Amy Schreiner, deputy chief at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, conducted an on-site assessment that included, among other things, interviews with campus stakeholders and public safety partner agencies and ride-alongs with campus peace officers. The four focus areas of the on-site assessment included communications and dispatch operations; crime prevention and community involvement; recruitment and selection of personnel; and response to active threats and critical incidents.

The final report will be forwarded to the commission for review and decision. In November 2024, DPS will appear before the CALEA Commissioners in a public review hearing to discuss the findings of the assessment.

Training

This summer all DPS peace officers and dispatchers received trauma informed care/policing training from the University at Buffalo, School of Social Work, Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) by instructor Thomas Gibbons, retired senior investigator for the New York State Police. The department also received diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training from Christina Papaleo, DEIA learning and development specialist from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

We strive to support a campus culture that is truly welcoming and offers a sense of safety and openness to diverse communities, perspectives and experiences.

Employee of the Month

Detective Chris Wood has been selected as our July 2024 Employee of the Month.

Detective Wood’s hard work culminated in July with a successful CALEA on-site assessment. He met the requirements of providing hundreds of updated and new standard operating procedures (SOP) documented proofs for each SOP and managed a multi-day on-site assessment.

Monthly Bias Update

There are no new updates to share. As a reminder, if we do have additional updates, we will update the chart on our website and share any developments in this monthly email.

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.

Look forward to seeing you all soon!

Sincerely,

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety

Public Safety Notice – Robbery

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, at approximately 6:45 pm, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a report of an armed robbery. The victim, a recent graduate of Syracuse University, stated that the incident occurred off-campus outside of 514 Euclid Ave.

The victim reported that he was approached by an unknown suspect who demanded the victim empty his pockets. The victim stated he had nothing in his pockets and showed his empty pockets to the suspect. The suspect then displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and pointed it towards the victim’s feet and demanded the victim hand over his backpack. The victim complied and after taking the backpack, the suspect fled on foot away from campus. The victim left the area, drove to the Syracuse Police Department and reported the incident.

The suspect is described as an adult male wearing a black jacket and a black ski mask covering his face. The suspect was last seen fleeing on foot towards Sumner Avenue from the scene.
The Syracuse Police Department and the Department of Public Safety are continuing to investigate the incident and will provide updates as additional information becomes available

If you were in the vicinity at the time and witnessed the incident, please contact the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5222 or the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for 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.

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

April 2024 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe that another year has passed by as we celebrated Commencement this past weekend. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our campus community and well-wishes to all our graduates!

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

  • Community Engagement Updates
  • Bicycle, Scooter and Skateboard Safety
  • Employees of the Month
  • Monthly Bias Update

Community Engagement Updates

Our Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services team has been hard at work throughout the semester organizing several community engagement initiatives, including:

Earth Day Clean-Up: In celebration of Earth Day, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) partnered with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to organize a neighborhood clean-up for the second consecutive year. This year, we doubled the number of participants, with more than 200 students taking time out of their weekend to help make a positive difference for our campus community and neighbors. Our team is looking forward to growing this event even more next year.

Safety Stations: In partnership with Title IX and Apartment and Off-Campus Living, DPS held its Safety Stations during the last weekend of April. Hundreds of students stopped by our table set up at 401 Euclid Ave., outside of Lyons Hall. Representatives from the aforementioned offices answered questions and reminded students of important safety tips. We look forward to continuing this initiative in the fall.

Youth Leadership Camp: Our second annual Youth Leadership Camp is slated for the third week of July. This collaboration between Syracuse University DPS and the Syracuse City School District will bring rising ninth graders to campus for a week. The students will partake in an expansive curriculum, including learning sessions that will focus on life, career and other important skills. I look forward to sharing more about this in the coming months.

Bicycle, Scooter and Skateboard Safety

With the warmer weather and more members of our campus community remaining in town for the summer, there will be an increased use of bicycles, scooters or skateboards on campus. Please keep these tips in mind when out and about:

  • Obey traffic signs and signals; bicycles must follow the rules of the road like other vehicles.
  • Always wear your helmet!
  • Use a U-bolt locking device for your bicycle and register your bike with DPS.

We also encourage drivers to be mindful and alert to the increased presence of bicycles, scooters and skateboards and to obey the rules of the road. For more safety tips, visit our website.

Employees of the Month – March 2024

I am pleased to share that Officer John Romano and Community Services Officer (CSO) Larry Whitlock have been selected as our March 2024 Employees of the Month.

Officer Romano is being honored for his pivotal role in apprehending an individual related to a harassment incident on Marshall Street. CSO Whitlock is being recognized for his tireless work ethic and exceptional service provided to the campus community. Congratulations to them both!

Monthly Bias Update

There are no new updates to share. As a reminder, if we do have additional updates they will be posted on the chart on our website and share any developments in this monthly email.

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.

Go Orange!

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety
Student Experience Division

Verbal Altercation on Quad Results in One Arrest

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We are writing this evening to share an update on an incident that occurred on our campus this afternoon.

A small group of individuals, including three parents, approached the student demonstration taking place on the Quad. Witnesses say one parent was especially aggressive in his verbal treatment of the students. When asked to deescalate by Student Experience staff, the parent refused, escalated to grabbing and tossing students’ food from a table, moving signs and continuing to verbally berate the students in the protest space. At this time, we believe there was no physical contact with protesters. When Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers intervened, they asked the parent to deescalate and depart campus. When the parent refused, he was arrested. The student protesters remained peaceful at all times during the incident.

Harassing behavior or conduct from anyone that creates a safety concern will not be tolerated.

DPS officers and members of the Student Experience team continue to be present at the site of the Quad protest. They remain focused on the safety of every student.

Sincerely,

Allen W. Groves
Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer

Craig Stone
Associate Vice President and Chief, Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services