DPS News

On Monday night, May 8, memebers of the Department of Public Safety, along with members of other departments within the Division of Campus Safety and Emergency Services, were honored for their exceptional achievements throughout the 2016 calednar year.

The award recipients from DPS were:

Meritorious Performance Award
Daniel Lebron, Jr., Training Coordinator, Department of Public Safety

Outstanding Communications Officer Award
Shannon Day, Emergency Communications Coordinator, Department of Public Safety
Shannon Slowik, Communications Specialist, Department of Public Safety

Outstanding Community Services Officer Award
Joseph O’Connor, Community Services Officer (CSO), Department of Public Safety

Outstanding Peace Officer Award
John Bingham, Public Safety Officer, Department of Public Safety
Jeremy Welling, Public Safety Officer, Department of Public Safety

Outstanding Fire and Life Safety Officer Award
Matthew Speach, Inspector, Fire and Life Safety Services, Department of Public Safety

Major Grant Williams Excellence in Service Award
George Wazen, Public Safety Library Operations Coordinator, Department of Public Safety

Excellence in Law Enforcement Award
Edward Babcock, Public Safety Officer, Department of Public Safety
Gregory Scheurer, Public Safety Officer, Department of Public Safety

Outstanding Students for Community Safety Award
Ishan Gupta, Resident Student Advisor, Students for Community Safety

Community Member Recognition Awards
Alexander Lynch, Department of Public Safety Externship
Kevin Storm, U.S. Postal Service

Each award recipient significantly affected the collective efforts of the Division of Campus Safety and Emergency Services, and it is due to their efforts that the reputation of division as a service provider has continued to flourish. To learn more about each award, visit the Division of Campus Safety and Emergency Services website.

On Thursday, May 11, Senior Detective Edward Weber was honored with the Public Safety Service Award at the 48th Annual District Attorney’s Advisory Council Awards and Scholarship Luncheon.

The following was shared as the nomination for Weber:

Senior Detective Edward G. Weber has been serving the Central New York community as a law enforcement officer, trainer, supervisor and leader for nearly 45 years. Weber started his career in 1973 with the Clay Police Department as a patrol officer and quickly moved to the rank of police sergeant before transferring to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. In over seventeen years of service with the Sheriff. Weber worked as a patrol officer, accident investigator, research and development officer, accreditation officer, academy instructor and as a labor leader. After retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, Weber joined the ranks of the Oneida Nation Police where he worked as a patrol officer, ultimately achieving the rank of patrol sergeant. Weber then went on to join the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 2001 as a patrol officer, being promoted to corporal, patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant and ultimately to the position of Senior Detective, supervising and leading the DPS Investigations and Crime Prevention Section. Ed also continued to work as a municipal police officer part time with the Village of Solvay from 2001-2013. He has received numerous awards and commendations.

His commitment to service, diligence to duty, competence and experience have served each of the unique communities where he has worked incredibly well. As a police instructor, Weber trained an entire generation of law enforcement officers from around Central New York on emergency vehicle operations skills, as well as a number of other patrol and investigative techniques. He received the “Gold badge Award” from Channel 5 in 1982 for excellence in traffic accident investigations. He helped the Sheriffs Office achieve its first recognition through the New York State police accreditation program. At Syracuse University, Weber led the in the enhancement of student security programs, and was recognized for solving several serious on campus and near campus crime, and provided leadership and training to countless officers.

Today, Ed continues to provide training to all new police supervisors in Syracuse, Onondaga County and Central New York as an instructor for the regional police supervision course held semi-annually, and he continues to lead in managing investigations at SU, coordinating the University’s investigative services with the Syracuse Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, and developing crime prevention programs for the students. Ed has also served as an elected town councilman in the Town of Geddes for the past several years, and has recently been appointed as the Deputy Town Supervisor. To say that Ed Weber’s service in criminal justice and public safety has been distinguished is an understatement, and therefore the District Attorney’s Advisory Council is pleased to recognize Senior Detective Edward G. Weber with the Public Safety Service award for 2017.

Congratulations, Ed!

Earlier this month, Officer Scheurer and Officer Wazen both recieved the Law Enforcement Commendation Award from the Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police.

The following was shared as the nomination for Officer Scheurer:

For promoting, establishing, and encouraging law enforcement or investigative efforts on campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Is focused on keeping the peace, protecting life and property, reducing crime and enforcing laws.

On October 27, 2016, Officer Scheurer observed a suspicious vehicle parked outside the Inn Complete, which was closed for business. He recalled reading on the Internet about incidents in Cicero and Liverpool where a vehicle matching the description of the one he was observing, was approaching students waiting at school bus stops. Officer Scheurer contacted the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), who was conducting the investigation into these incidents. Through his investigative work, Officer Scheurer discovered that the suspect was a University employee. He shared this information with the OCSO and the New York State Police, another investigating agency. This incident was newsworthy and if was not for Officer Scheurer’s keen observation while on patrol, the case would not have been solved.

The following was shared as the nomination for Officer Wazen:

For efforts in establishing, promoting and encourage community policing, customer service, risk prevention, and/or crime prevention efforts on campus and in the neighboring community. Has developed sustainable relationships through proactive interaction, inclusion, community service and/or community policing.

Since Officer Wazen accepted a work assignment at Bird Library, there has been a noticeable decline in larcenies. This decline is attributed to his dedication to working, supervising and mentoring library work-study students.  Officer Wazen takes the time to train all of the students and holds them accountable for the work that they do in the library. Officer Wazen is very active in his job, is highly visible and approachable.  He embodies the energy, care, service, and crime prevention efforts that was characteristic of Major Grant Williams.

Congratulations to both Officers!