DPS News

January 2025 Updates from the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe we are already a month into the Spring 2025 semester. If you haven’t yet, please review our communication that was sent out at the beginning of the semester, which highlighted important campus safety communications.

In today’s message, we will cover the following:

  • Orange Alert Test 
  • Safety Strategies
  • Community Police Academy
  • Employee of the Month

Orange Alert Test 

Last week, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a test of the Orange Alert Campus Crisis Alert Notification System. It was a full test of the system, which included notifications sent via email, text message and voice call. The test also included the outdoor siren system on the University’s North and South campuses. If you did not get the email, text or voice call, please take the following steps: 

  • Log in to MySlice using your NetID and password.
  • Select Student Home or Employee Home, depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University.
  • Select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and update your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link.

Please note that our Orange Alert messaging will never ask you to follow a link or provide personal information. For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit the DPS website.

Safety Strategies 

Keeping Your Vehicle Safe 

DPS is monitoring an increase in larcenies of items in vehicles in the east neighborhood area, particularly around the 100 and 200 blocks of Comstock Avenue. To enhance your safety and protect your personal belongings, we recommend taking the following steps:

  • Park your vehicle in an area you are familiar with and that has proper lighting.
  • Close and lock all vehicle windows and doors.
  • Store valuable items in secure places where they are out of plain sight, such as a glove box or trunk, and bring items like your laptop computer or phone inside with you.
  • Do not leave your keys in the vehicle or your vehicle running even for a few minutes.
  • Immediately report all suspicious activity and behavior.

Please contact DPS at 315.443.2224 if you have any information regarding these recent crimes or if you have fallen victim to a crime.

Staying Warm and Safe During Winter Weather 

At times the Syracuse area can experience strong winter weather. Whether that’s snowfall, sleet/icing or colder temps, we want to pass along some important safety strategies you can take to keep warm and remain safe during these events:

  • Regularly stay informed by following the news and National Weather Service Binghamton.
  • Keep a stock of non-perishable food.
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothes.
  • If you must go outside, walk carefully on snowy and icy sidewalks and keep dry by changing wet clothing frequently.
  • Avoid traveling until conditions have improved. If you do have to travel, give yourself ample time to get to your destination, and use roadways that are heavily traveled, are cleared and have less incline.

Don’t forget, DPS is here 24/7, 365 days a year at 315.443.2224.

Community Police Academy 

Want to learn what it’s like to protect and serve our campus community? Join our Community Police Academy (CPA) for a four-week program on DPS programs, policies and procedures. The comprehensive instruction includes open discussion and scenario-based role playing.

The CPA is open to current students, faculty and staff members who are at least 18 years of age. Our first class is tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 12; if you want to join, apply today! 

Employee of the Month

Emergency Communication Center Dispatcher Bailey Pattillo and Officer Thomas Bingham were selected for our December 2024 Employees of the Month. Officer George Wazen was selected as our January 2025 Employee of the Month!

Congratulations all on a job well done!

As a reminder, it is 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

DPS to Conduct an Orange Alert System Test on Wednesday, Feb. 5

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will conduct a test of the Orange Alert Campus Crisis Alert Notification System on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 12:40 p.m. It will be a full test of the system, which includes notifications sent via email, text message and voice call. The test will also include the Orange Alert outdoor siren system on the University’s North and South campuses. The sirens will be activated for two minutes at 12:40 p.m.

In addition to email, text and voice messages, the Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the Orange Safe app, to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and Twitter accounts, and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

The Orange Alert message will be sent to all Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) students and to SUNY ESF faculty and staff who have signed up. Orange Alert will send a notice to all devices that are registered on the system.

“As we do every semester, it is time for us to do a full-scale test of the Orange Alert System,” says William Karnadi, director of emergency management and business continuity planning. “Ahead of the test on Wednesday, please go into your MySlice account and verify your contact information is up to date. This includes making sure your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device, so that you receive our text messages.”

To review and/or modify your Orange Alert contact information, go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home, depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and review your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link. If you are an ESF student, use the ESF emergency contact information page to update your information.

For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit the DPS website.

Public Safety Informational Notice

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is actively investigating multiple reports of criminal mischief and vehicle larcenies. The reports occurred primarily in the east neighborhood area, particularly around the 100 and 200 blocks of Comstock Ave.

We ask our community members, particularly those living in off-campus neighborhoods, to remain alert for suspicious activity. To enhance your safety and protect your personal belongings, we recommend taking the following steps:

  • Park your vehicle in an area you are familiar with and that has proper lighting;
  • Close and lock all windows and doors;
  • Store valuable items in secure places where they are out of plain sight, such as a glove box or trunk and bring items like your laptop computer or phone inside with you;
  • Do not leave your keys in the vehicle or your vehicle running; and
  • Report all suspicious activity and behavior immediately.

Please contact DPS at 315.443.2224 if you have any information regarding these recent crimes. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

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

Important Campus Safety Communications

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

For those just joining our campus community, welcome! And to our returning students, faculty and staff, welcome back! With a new semester underway, we would like to take this opportunity to review the processes and protocols that guide when and how the Department of Public Safety (DPS) communicates about safety matters.

Communications Processes

The summary below explains how and why DPS issues emergency notifications 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.

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 suspect is at large on or immediately adjacent to the campus and we need the community’s help locating the individual.

We will not issue broad communications:

  • When initial investigation into an incident indicates there is no ongoing, active or continuing threat.
  • When another law enforcement agency has jurisdiction or is the lead investigator on an active case, and we have been directed by that agency not to issue a notice. That agency may ultimately 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.

Reporting a Crime 

To report an 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.

Reporting a Bias Incident 

To report a bias incident or to receive support from Student Experience staff, visit the STOP Bias website.

Public Safety Messages (Timely Warnings)

Public safety messages are distributed via email and posted on the DPS website and on DPS social media accounts. There are three types of messages:

  1. Public Safety Notice designates a timely warning related to an ongoing concern for violence.
  2. Public Safety Information designates a warning related to an ongoing property crime problem or about general safety-related information.
  3. Public Safety Update provides information regarding a threat that has passed or an update to a previously issued Public Safety Notice.

These messages promote safety and are intended to inform the community of suspects at large or an ongoing threat to campus community members and to seek the community’s help in identifying suspects and gathering pertinent details. Follow-up information will be disseminated when appropriate and all alerts are posted online.

Emergency Notification and Response (Orange Alert)

The Orange Alert system is designed to provide rapid notification and instructions to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students in the event of a verified crisis where an immediate threat of serious physical harm exists.

Orange Alert uses email, text messaging, push notifications from the Orange Safe app, social media networks and cell/landline phone calls to send a brief notice about the incident and instructions about what actions to take. Additionally, sirens will sound on North Campus and South Campus. After an Orange Alert message is broadcast, more detailed follow-up information will be provided.

This system is also utilized in the event of extreme weather, and with the current threat of extreme winter weather, it is vital to input your most up-to-date contact information.

Sign Up in MySlice

To receive the aforementioned communications, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to log into MySlice to ensure their contact information for Orange Alerts is up to date. To receive text message notifications, your cell phone number must be designated as a mobile device.

We are always available to discuss our processes, protocols and how we collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement to keep our campus community safe. DPS is here for you 24/7 by calling 315.443.2224 or by connecting on the Orange Safe app.

Wishing you a successful semester!

Sincerely,

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety

Public Safety Informational Notice

On Thursday, December 19, shortly before 11:30 a.m., the Department of Public Safety received a report of a deceased individual on the fifth floor of Huntington Hall. Both DPS and Syracuse Police responded to the scene.

There are no signs of foul play or suspicious activity and the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office has since removed the deceased from the building. The individual was not affiliated with Syracuse University.

To report an emergency, 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 or the Orange Safe App.

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.