DPS Monthly Updates

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As the new chief of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services, I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received over the past several weeks. It’s been a pleasure getting to know many of you, and I look forward to meeting even more members of our campus community.

I’ve also had the opportunity to meet individually with members of the Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services team to better understand the important work they do each day. I continue to be impressed by their professionalism, dedication and care for this community, and I’m truly honored to be leading such a committed team.

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

• Youth Leadership Camp
• Community Engagement
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

Youth Leadership Camp

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) held its third annual Youth Leadership Camp for rising ninth graders from the Syracuse Police Athletic League (PAL) the week of July 22. The students learned about leadership and goal setting, effective communication and life skills, such as how to stop the bleed and using a fire extinguisher

We appreciate William (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 head football coach Fran Brown for showing the young people around the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. I also want to extend my thanks to the volunteer students, faculty and staff who assisted with the camp.

Community Engagement

Welcome Safety Stations

Our safety stations are back for the 2025-2026 academic year. We will be located at several spots across campus the first few weeks of school. There will be snacks and our officers will be reminding students of important safety tips and answering any questions you may have.

Follow our social media accounts to find out dates and locations!

Community Police Academy

Our DPS team is accepting applications for the Community Police Academy (CPA). Please review the following information to determine if the program may be of interest to you:

The Community Police Academy is a free four-week program designed to give eligible students, faculty and staff an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve our campus community. For the Fall 2025 semester, the classes will be held on campus in Lyman Hall from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Sept. 24
• Wednesday, Oct. 1
• Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Wednesday, Oct. 15

To learn more and register for our CPA program, visit the CPA webpage.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

DPS would like to remind the campus community of a few easy steps everyone can take to ensure we all reach our destinations unharmed, especially if we are walking or riding a bike or scooter.

• Avoid wearing earbuds or headphones in areas where vehicles are operating.
• Look both ways before crossing and only cross at the crosswalk.
• Wait for the walk signal!
• Be proactive by wearing light or reflective clothing during low-light situations.

Some specific safety tips for those on bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.:

• Obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings.
• Ride with traffic as this makes you more visible and your movements more predictable to motorists.
• DPS strongly urges all riders to wear a helmet.
• Secure your bicycle/scooter to a campus bike rack with a U-bolt lock.

Register your bike with DPS so a record of your bicycle is kept on file in the event of a theft.

We Are Here to Help

As a reminder, if you have information that may be relevant to DPS or an ongoing investigation, it is never too late to come forward. 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.

I look forward to having everyone back on campus starting next week!

Sincerely,

Chief Mike Bunker
Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As we enter the final month of classes and with final exams and end-of-year celebrations just around the corner, I want to thank our campus community for your continued support in helping the Department of Public Safety (DPS) ensure a safe and respectful campus.

In today’s message, I will address the following topics:

• Community Engagement Events
• Free Resources for You
• Safety Reminders
• Campus Peace Officer Academy
• Employee of the Month

Community Engagement Events 

Safety Stations 

We invite you to visit with representatives from DPS, Title IX, Student Living and Community Standards outside of Lyons Hall, 401 Euclid Ave., on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, from 9 to 11:30 p.m. We will provide snacks, remind students of important safety tips and answer any questions you may have. Stop by and say hello to those stationed at the table! 

Earth Day Cleanup 

In celebration of Earth Day later this month, DPS is partnering with Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to organize a neighborhood cleanup for the third consecutive year. We look forwarding to teaming up with students to help make a positive difference for our campus community and neighbors.

DeStress With DPS

Join us on Tuesday, April 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bird Library. Take a break from studying to grab some snacks, interact with our team and spend time with therapy dogs! 

Be sure to mark your calendar and follow us on social media for more information: @SyracuseDPS.

Free Resources for You! 

Here at Syracuse University, we have two FREE apps that can help you in your day-to-day life: OrangeNow and Orange Safe. Both apps are available for Apple and Android users.

OrangeNow 

Stay ahead of your day with OrangeNow. The app is a great way to help you navigate your class schedule, catch up on campus news, find dining options or check real-time bus arrivals!

Orange Safe 

The Orange Safe app provides tools designed to keep you safe! With the push of a button, you can communicate with DPS or 9-1-1 or use the chat feature to talk to our team of dispatchers. Some other helpful resources are the mobile blue light, safe walk, social escape, information on preventing scams and other emergency resources.

DPS is on the road to 20,000 Orange Safe downloads. Help us get there and you might be eligible to win a special prize! Stay tuned to our social media for more information!

Important Safety Reminders 

Our priority is our community’s safety. You can help keep yourself and those around you safe by employing these tried and true strategies:

• When possible, move around campus in groups of three or more, especially after dark. And be sure to always pay attention to your surroundings!
• Always lock your windows and doors for your residence, office and vehicle. Don’t leave valuable items where they can easily be viewed.
• Follow the rules of the road when crossing the street or bicycling/skateboarding on and near campus.
• Use a U-bolt locking device for your bicycle and make sure to register your bike with DPS.

More safety strategies can be found on our website. As a reminder, the Department of Public Safety is always working and available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 315.443.2224 if you observe anything concerning.

Campus Peace Officer Academy 

Six new recruits were sworn into the DPS Campus Peace Officer Academy on March 20. Mariyah Byrd, Matthew Calley, Jesus Gorra, Brennan Kreis and Misty Stephens are training to become Syracuse University campus peace officers. Additionally, Megan Healey will join this peace officer academy and head to Onondaga Community College upon completion.

During the academy, recruits will receive over 400 hours of classroom instruction and undergo physical fitness and field-based tests required by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Upon successful completion of the academy, graduates progress to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks. 

Employee of the Month 

I am pleased to announce that Officer Gregory Scheurer has been named March 2025 Employee of the Month. Congratulations on a job well done.

As a reminder, if you have information that may be relevant to DPS or an ongoing investigation, it is never too late to come forward. 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 and Hate website.

Go Orange!

Chief Craig A. Stone
Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We have now reached the midpoint of the spring semester and next week, many of you will be departing campus to rest and recharge. We wish you a restful spring break and safe travels. We look forward to welcoming you back and finishing the semester off strong!

In today’s message, I will address the following topics:

• Omega Phi Beta Campus Walk
• DPS Social Media and Community Engagement Events
• Incoming Peace Officer Academy
• Scam Alert
• Preparing Residences for Spring Break
• Employee of the Month

Omega Phi Beta Campus Walk

On Monday, Feb. 24, students in the Omega Phi Beta sorority joined Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers for a Night Watch: Campus Safety Walk. The group started with a walk around the outside of the Quad, where they were shown blue lights and how they worked. From there the students were able to see inside the DPS office, including the Emergency Communication Center, which was a big hit! The group ended at the Hall of Languages for a presentation that highlighted the Orange Safe App, crime and safety tips and alcohol awareness.   

Community Engagement Events and DPS Social Media

Our goal at DPS is to ensure all members of our community have a safe and secure learning, social and cultural environment. Did you know DPS offers crime prevention workshops? We can cover such topics as alcohol awareness, security vulnerability assessments, active shooter guidelines and others. Fill out this form today to get the conversation started.

In addition, I encourage you to follow us on social media to stay up to date on the activities we have planned. We are on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn. On top of that, you will be the first to know when we have upcoming events or important news to share. Speaking of important news, DPS is on the road to 20,000 Orange Safe App downloads. Help us get there and you might be eligible to win a special prize. Stay tuned to our social media for more information.

Incoming Peace Officer Academy

After months of recruitment, DPS is gearing up to welcome another group of peace officer recruits. This year we will be training individuals looking to join Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety as well as Onondaga Community College Public Safety.

During the academy, these recruits will receive over 400 hours of classroom instruction, and physical fitness and field-based tests required by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Upon successful completion of the academy, graduates progress to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks. 

Concert Ticket Scam Alert

With the warm weather right around the corner, concert season will start before we know it. We want to make you aware of a scam that is targeting our community. Scammers are using different apps to sell students false concert tickets using hacked accounts. Below are some tips on how to avoid these scams!

• The safest way to buy tickets is from the venue where the event is being staged. 
• Using a search engine is tricky as many of these look-alike accounts show up near the top of the search results. Make sure you are on the real site. 
• If you purchase from a third-party, make sure they are a reputable ticket vendor or reseller. 
• If possible, use a credit card. You can dispute charges and have a better chance of getting your money back. 
• Do online searches: Look for reviews, complaints or similar scams. 

Have questions? Contact DPS at dpsadmin@syr.edu or ITS at help@syr.edu.  

Preparing Residences for Spring Break

As many of you plan to depart campus for spring break, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to take necessary action to protect your residence, office, cubicle spaces and belongings. Please review our recommended safety strategies about how to secure your spaces.

While many community members are heading elsewhere, some will remain around campus. As a reminder, the Department of Public Safety is always working and available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 315.443.2224 if you observe anything concerning.

Employees of the Month

I am pleased to announce that Residential Community Safety Officer (RCSO) Donald Plantz and Emergency Communication Center (ECC) Dispatchers Josh Lewis and Richard Curran were named February 2025 Employees 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

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

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

This will be our final monthly update of the Fall 2024 semester. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) team wants to thank you for your commitment to safety throughout this year. We wish you all a happy, healthly and safe holiday season.

In this monthly update we will cover:

• De-Stress With DPS
• Spring Semester Engagement Efforts
• Preparing Residences for Winter Break
• Orange Safe Reminder
• Celebrations
• Monthly Bias Update

De-Stress With DPS 

Join us for De-Stress With DPS tomorrow, Dec. 11, from 8 to 10 p.m. at Bird Library. Take a break from studying to grab some snacks, interact with our team and spend some time with therapy dogs.

Be sure to mark your calendar and follow us on social media for more information @SyracuseDPS.

Spring Semester Engagement Efforts 

Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to connect with the campus community. Listed below are a few upcoming events planned for 2025:

Community Police Academy

Our Community Police Academy is back for the Spring 2025 semester. This is a free four-week program designed to give eligible students, faculty and staff an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve our campus community. The classes will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Lyman Hall, Room 132, on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Feb. 12
• Wednesday, Feb. 19
• Wednesday, Feb. 26
• Wednesday, March 5

To learn more and apply, please visit the Community Police Academy webpage.

R.A.D. Self Defense Classes

R.A.D. is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. The R.A.D. system is a comprehensive course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance. It then progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training. The classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Feb. 4
• Tuesday, Feb. 11
• Tuesday, Feb. 18
• Tuesday, Feb. 25

To learn more and register, visit the R.A.D. webpage.

Preparing Residences for Winter Break

As many of you plan to depart campus for the winter break, please take this opportunity to take necessary action to protect your residences, offices, cubicle spaces and belongings. Please review our latest informational notice about how to secure your spaces.

While many members of our community will be heading elsewhere after finals, many will remain around campus. As a reminder, DPS is always working and available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 315.443.2224 if you observe anything concerning.

Orange Safe App Reminder 

Do you have the Orange Safe App? If you haven’t already downloaded the app, I urge you to do so. We are closing in on 20,000 downloads, and you could help us reach this milestone. Be on the lookout during the Spring 2025 semester as we plan an Orange Safe App giveaway for when we hit that milestone.

The Orange Safe App is free to download and provides students, faculty and staff a number of tools designed to keep everyone safe. Some of the highlighted features include:

• Easy Emergency Communication: Directly connect to 9-1-1 for off-campus emergencies or DPS in an on-campus emergency
• Mobile BlueLight: Simultaneously send your location to and call the DPS Emergency Communications Center
• Safe Walk: Send your location to a friend and they can watch you walk to your destination
• Tip Reporting: Prevent dangerous situations by submitting a tip and have real-time chat interactions with a member of the DPS
• Social Escape: Get out of a tough social situation by receiving a call and giving you an excuse to leave

And with the winter weather upon us, you can also get some safety tips by reviewing our emergency plans in the Orange Safe App. They include safety tips for instances like extreme cold/snow and more.

Celebrations

CALEA Accreditation 

DPS recently received advanced accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The number one priority of DPS is keeping the campus community safe. This is accomplished through adhering to public safety standards set forth by CALEA. During our assessment, DPS demonstrated compliance with CALEA’s advanced standards. Throughout the process, the department consistently met the stringent criteria set by CALEA, showcasing its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, accountability and operational excellence.

Employee of the Month 

Detective Tracey Johnson has been selected as our November 2024 Employee of the Month. Congratulations on a job well done! To read about her accomplishments, please visit our Employee of the Month webpage.

Bias Incidents 

It is never too late to come forward with information on any crime or issue of concern. 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