DPS News

Public Safety Informational Notice: Burglaries

Yesterday evening, two different fire alarms were pulled in an effort to create a distraction and to burglarize unlocked residence hall rooms; one in Watson Hall and the other in Lawrinson Hall. Certain personal items including cash, speakers, headphones, wallets, shoes, jewelry and other items were stolen.

Our detectives, along with the Syracuse Police Department, are actively investigating these incidents. If you have information about those responsible for this activity or if you believe you have been a victim of these burglaries, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

This kind of activity will not be tolerated and will be investigated with all available resources. We have increased patrols in and around the residence halls. Additionally, we will dispatch additional law enforcement and fire safety staff to fire alarm pull incidents. We have also alerted the residence hall staff to these incidents.

As a reminder, should a fire alarm go off in your building, follow these useful tips:

•    Anytime you leave your room, whether it is a fire alarm or even if it is only for few minutes to visit a friend, you need to take your key with you and always lock your door.
•    Exit the building in a calm, swift, and safe manner using the exit that is closet to your room.
•    Move away from the building and wait to receive confirmation once it is deemed safe to reenter.
•    Finally, when exiting or entering a residence hall, do not hold the door open for someone behind you; it is expected that everyone is to swipe their SUID card to access our campus buildings.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Officer Franklin Recognized

This morning, at the Center of Excellence, Community Services Officer Franklin was recognized for her actions as it related to a larceny investigation. She was presented with the following letter:

I would like to recognize you on your individual actions relative to a Larceny investigation that occurred on August 6, 2018 at 727 E. Washington Street, The Center of Excellence (COE).

As you arrived at work on this date, you noticed some of your personal belongings were missing from a desk you maintain in the lobby of the building. You took the initiative to check the CCTV cameras in and around the building. At 2:08 am, you were able to capture a person of interest pulling on the entrance doors eventually finding an open door. This person was then observed entering the building and rummaging through the desk, you operate during your tour of duty. The camera footage was saved and turned over to the responding DPS Patrol Officer who completed a report under case number 18-405106.

Officer Franklin being presented recognition letter by Detective Toia

The next evening on August 7, 2018 this same person of interest came back to the Center of Excellence (COE) and tried to gain entry, however this time she was denied. You once again took the initiative to check the CCTV cameras and two still photos were captured and forwarded to the DPS Investigations Section for further review.

As a result of your work, the photos were distributed to the different police agencies in Onondaga County through the Onondaga County Crime Analysis Unit. As a result, an identification was made by a member of the Syracuse Police Department Patrol Section and an arrest was made on the person captured in the photos you provided for Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree and Petit Larceny.

Your actions reflect your commitment to the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety and the University community and are characteristic of your individual and collective concern for the safety and security of all members of the community. You have done much to advance the Department of Public Safety’s reputation as a professional law enforcement entity. You have brought great credit upon yourself and the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety and you have set a fine example for other officers to follow.

It is my pleasure to award you this letter of recognition.

Sincerely,

Detective Michael Toia

2018 Emergency Drill

On Tuesday, July 31, the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS), Fire and Life Services (FLSS), and Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA), teamed up with the Syracuse Fire Department for a fire drill at the Biological Research Laboratories (BRL) building. 

The mock scenario involved four individuals inside the building where the fire was reported, as well as manikins, which all had to be evacuated.

DPS and FLSS officers arrived at BRL and quickly determined which floors had smoke conditions and provided that information to the Syracuse Fire Department, who was en route.

Upon arrival, the Syracuse Fire Department, sent a team inside to perform a search and used their bucket truck to assist with reaching the high floors to put out the mock fire.

Once the drill was complete, the Chiefs held a mock press conference with students from Newhouse as part of an assignment for their class.

2018 Peace Officer Academy Graduation

On Friday, July 13, the Department of Public Safety held the 2018 Campus Peace Officer Academy Graduation at Drumlins in Syracuse. Colleagues, friends, and family joined the seven graduates as they completed the program by receiving their diploma’s.

The graduates included:

Eugenio D. Alvarez
Jonathon B. Bennett
Falasha B. Branch
Joseph V. Dishaw
Joseph P. Hernon
Brad A. Pearson
Liztazia I. Ramirez
Dustin F. White
Jessica L. Zaccari
Marissa A. Ziemba

Special honors went to:

Valedictorian—Falasha B. Branch, Syracuse University Department of Public Safety
Physical Fitness Award—Eugenio D. Alvarez, Syracuse University Department of Public Safety and Marissa A. Ziemba, Onondaga Community College Public Safety
Top Gun Award—Dustin White, Onondaga Community College Public Safety

The graduates are now completing their time as field training officers.

Results of Community Survey on Body Worn Cameras

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers have been equipped with Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) since October of 2015. The department’s goal is to establish a model program, utilizing best practices to be shared with other law enforcement partners, and to continue to improve community relations and professional standards within the department.

As part of these efforts and research, the DPS issued a survey to random Syracuse University community members, including students, faculty, and staff, in February of 2018. Several survey questions asked respondents to indicate the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements about the BWC program. Questions, asked respondents about improving public and officer safety, trust, and transparency of interactions, and providing valuable evidence. Questions also included respondent comfort levels talking to officers equipped with BWCs in different scenarios including as a victim, witness, being questioned or arrested, and asking officers for general information. Responses were recorded on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.”

Over 85% of respondents to the survey strongly agree/agree that they support the DPS having BWCs. Additionally; over 80% of respondents strongly agree/agree/somewhat agree that the BWC program improves public and officer safety, trust, and transparency of interactions, and providing valuable evidence.

Over 80% of respondents also strongly agree/agree/somewhat agree that they would feel comfortable talking to officers equipped with BWCs in different scenarios including as a victim, witness, being questioned or arrested, and asking officers for general information; with less than 15% indicating that they would not feel comfortable.

Just under 45% of respondents to the survey were students, with the graduate student population being the highest to respond; with the remainder of respondents being staff and faculty, almost 50% of these respondents were staff.

Overall, there were many comments in the survey supporting the BWC program. To address questions asked in the survey including privacy of recorded information, when people are being recorded, training of officers, operability of cameras, and videos as evidence in court, please refer to the Body Worn Camera Policy.

We would like to thank our community members who participated in the survey, as your feedback is valuable in continuing to establish a model program.