DPS Monthly Updates

March 2024 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As the semester is nearing the home stretch, I would like to thank our campus community for your continued commitment to helping our entire Department of Public Safety (DPS) team maintain a safe and secure campus. Let’s finish the semester off strong.

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

  • Solar Eclipse Safety Information
  • DPS Survey
  • Marshall Street Substation Now Open
  • Campus Peace Officer Academy
  • Employee of the Month – February 2024
  • Monthly Bias Update

Solar Eclipse Safety Information

This afternoon, parts of Central New York, including our campus, will be in the path of the solar eclipse. While this is an exciting event, I want you to be aware of the impact the eclipse can have on our community’s safety and well-being. I ask that you please carefully review our previous communication in preparation of the solar eclipse, which includes safety information, timing of the eclipse and additional resources.

DPS Survey

As part of DPS’ mission to provide a safe and welcoming community, we hope you will share your perspectives on public and campus safety, and experiences with DPS operations and services through an online survey. Specifically, you will be answering questions related to safety and the quality of policing.

We will use the survey results to assess the University’s campus safety processes and protocols and make any necessary changes based on your feedback. The survey will be sent later today to all students, faculty and staff. Please consider participating.

Marshall Street Substation Now Open

On March 29, DPS celebrated the opening of our new substation at 101 Marshall Street. We appreciate everyone in our community who joined us.

Marshall Street is one of the highest-traffic areas surrounding campus, and in addition to the new student housing projects in the vicinity, there are numerous restaurants, bars and shops that bring many visitors and alumni to the area. We look forward to having an increased presence in the area to serve our campus community. To learn more about our new location, including hours of operation, please visit our website.

Campus Peace Officer Academy

Our latest Campus Peace Officer Academy is officially underway as nine new recruits were sworn in on March 21. It was an exciting day for our entire department as these recruits start their journey toward becoming campus peace officers.

Throughout the duration of the academy these nine recruits will be subject to technical, physical, classroom and field-based tests. Upon successful completion of the academy, the graduates will move forward to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks. I look forward to providing updates on their progress in future messages.

Employee of the Month – February 2024 

I am pleased to announce that Officer in Charge (OIC) Eugenio Alvarez, Officer Montague Kreis and Public Safety Coordinator Miah Rafferty have been selected as our February 2024 Employees of the Month!

OIC Alvarez and Officer Kreis are being honored for their role in responding to an armed robbery where the suspect was successfully taken into custody. Public Safety Coordinator Rafferty also is being honored for her efforts in helping resolve multiple cases through extensively reviewing security footage. Congratulations to them all!

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.

Go Orange!

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

February 2024 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

I can hardly believe we are nearing the midway point of the spring semester. As we head into spring break, all of us at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) would like to wish those of you departing campus 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:

  • Awareness of Threats Online
  • Community Police Academy Graduation
  • DPS Social Media
  • Employee of the Month – January 2024
  • Preparing Residences for Spring Break
  • Monthly Bias Update

Awareness of Threats Online

DPS has seen an increase in online crimes and scams. We would like to remind our campus community to be wary of any online activity that asks for personal information, payment, etc. Do not hesitate to contact us if you see or receive something suspicious.

Phishing scams disguised as account termination warnings, job offers or requests for help circulate among the University community from time to time. Please remember that Information Technology Services (ITS) will never ask for your password or multi-factor authentication code. Any communication asking for this type of information should be deleted. You can learn more by visiting the ITS Phish Bowl.

Community Police Academy Graduation

I am pleased to share that our fourth and largest Community Police Academy (CPA) officially wrapped up this week. This iteration of the CPA saw 33 members of our campus community graduate from the program. The CPA is an excellent way to continue to build trust with our community. It has given participants an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve at Syracuse University.

We have been happy to collaborate with and welcome guests from the Syracuse Police Department and Syracuse University Ambulance throughout the CPA. If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website.

DPS Social Media

Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to engage with our campus community. I encourage all of you to follow us on social media to stay up to date on the exciting things 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.

Employee of the Month – January 2024

I am pleased to announce that Assistant Manager Brian O’Hara of Fire and Life Safety Services and Officer Simon Stikkel were selected as our January 2024 Employees of the Month!

O’Hara was honored for his role in providing lifesaving efforts to an individual who suffered a medical event during a Syracuse University men’s basketball game. Stikkel was also honored for his efforts in quickly recovering stolen DPS property. Congratulations to them both!

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 residences, offices, cubicle spaces and belongings. Please review our recommended safety strategiesabout 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.

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.

Go Orange!

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

January 2024 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) team is thankful to our campus community for your efforts in ensuring a safe start to the semester. We have some important updates to share with you this month in addition to the email that was previously sent regarding important campus safety communications.

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

  • Orange Alert Test
  • Information Technology Services (ITS) Phish Bowl
  • DPS Game Nights
  • Important Safety Reminders
  • Employee of the Month
  • Monthly Bias Update

Orange Alert Test

DPS will conduct a test of the Orange Alert Campus Crisis Alert Notification System on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 1:55 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 outdoor siren system on the University’s North and South campuses. The sirens will be activated for two minutes at 1:55 p.m.

The test message will also be sent via push notification to the Orange Safe app, to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and X accounts and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

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.

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

Information Technology Services (ITS) Phish Bowl

Phishing scams disguised as account termination warnings, job offers or requests for help circulate among the University community from time to time. Please remember that ITS will never ask for your password or multi-factor authentication code. Any communication asking for this type of information should be deleted.

You can learn more by visiting the ITS Phish Bowl.

DPS Game Nights

Our DPS team is thrilled to have a full slate of DPS Game Nights scheduled for the spring semester. As always, we will have a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Oculus Quest available for use. Anyone interested in attending can join us this Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Schine Student Center, from 2 to 4 p.m.

We always welcome your suggestions on other events we can host that allow our officers and our community to get to know each other better. Be sure to follow us on social media for more information on future game nights and other DPS events: @SyracuseDPS.

Important Safety Reminders

With a new semester underway DPS would like to remind our campus community of important safety strategies to keep in mind:

Amnesty Policy

The health and safety of every student at Syracuse University is of utmost importance. We recognize that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that prohibited conduct occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences of their own conduct.

Syracuse University and DPS strongly encourage our campus community to report all forms of prohibited conduct to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual or organization acting in good faith that initiates help from a campus or community resource for assistance related to alcohol and other drugs, will be the University’s priority. The student receiving the medical assistant and the student(s) or student organization who called for help, will not be referred to Community Standards for alleged violations of alcohol and other drugs.

Hazing Prevention

Syracuse University is committed to promoting an environment that fosters respect for the dignity and rights of all its community members. As such, the University will not tolerate hazing activities by any individuals, groups, teams or recognized student organizations.

To make a report of hazing, or to determine whether a proposed activity constitutes or will constitute hazing, visit the Hazing Prevention webpage.

Bystander Intervention Strategies

Everyone in the Syracuse University community has the potential to be a prosocial bystander and intervene when faced with a possibly dangerous situation. We know that every person has different comfort levels and that their comfort and perceived safety can be impacted by their identities and the context of a situation. It might not always be plausible for us to intervene in a situation, so it is important that we assess whether we feel safe intervening and whether or not we are putting ourselves in danger by getting involved.

This is why we would like to encourage our campus community to review the bystander intervention strategies on our website, so every person can choose a strategy to intervene safely when a risky or potentially dangerous situation arises. As always, if it is believed that you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact the Department of Public Safety or call 911 immediately.

Employee of the Month – December 2023

I am pleased to share that Community Service Officer (CSO) Jennifer Dunn has been selected as our December 2023 Employee of the Month!

CSO Dunn went above and beyond while conducting a property check which directly led to a suspect who was trespassing to be identified and taken into custody. Congratulations on a job well done!

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.

Go Orange!

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

November 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

This will be our final monthly message of the Fall 2023 semester. The entire Department of Public Safety (DPS) team is grateful to our campus community members for their cooperation and commitment to safety throughout this year. I wish for you all to have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

Listed below are some brief updates from the DPS team:

  • Destress With DPS
  • Spring Semester Engagement Efforts
  • Preparing Residences for Winter Break
  • Orange Safe Feature: Shuttle Schedules and Tracker
  • Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS) Achievements
  • Monthly Bias Update

Destress With DPS

During finals week at the end of each semester make sure you “Destress with DPS” at Bird Library. Take a break from the studying to grab some snacks, interact with our team and spend some time with therapy dogs! This event will be held tonight from 8 to 11 p.m.

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 our campus community. Here is what we have planned for 2024:

Community Police Academy: Our Community Police Academy is back again for the Spring 2024 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. 14
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21
  • Wednesday, Feb. 28
  • Wednesday, March 6

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, and progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. The classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1330 Jamesville Ave. on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 30
  • Tuesday, Feb. 6
  • Tuesday, Feb. 20
  • Tuesday, March 5

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, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you 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, 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.

Orange Safe Feature: Shuttle Schedules and Tracker

Did you know you can check shuttle schedules and see a live tracker of the shuttles around campus in the Orange Safe app? To find this feature, open the Orange Safe app and select “Support Resources” from the home page. Then select “Campus Shuttle,” from there you will be able to access the “Shuttle Schedules” and get live information as to where shuttles are and when you can expect one relative to your location.

If you haven’t already downloaded Orange Safe, I urge you to do so. You can learn more about the app and how to download by visiting the Orange Safe webpage.

Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS) Achievements

Our CSEMS team has accomplished great things throughout 2023. We have highlighted the wonderful achievements of our team through our Employee of the Month initiative and our recently held CSEMS Awards Program:

Employees of the Month: Sergeant Tim Salanger and Officer Fred Antinarella have been selected as our October 2023 Employees of the Month! Congratulations on a job well done! To read about their accomplishments, please visit our Employee of the Month webpage.

CSEMS Awards: The CSEMS Awards serves as opportunity to honor the impactful work of our entire unit from throughout the past year. An awards committee composed of CSEMS employees, with representation from all units, begins planning the awards during the summer months. The 2023 CSEMS Awards was held on Oct. 26. To learn more about the 2023 honorees, please see CSEMS Awards webpage.

Monthly Bias Update

Dec. 5: Antisemitic language written was discovered by a student in a book borrowed from Bird Library.

Update: Following a prompt review by DPS and library staff, it was determined that prior to the recent check out, the book had not been checked out since 2010. Based on this and the worn nature of the writing, it is likely the book has contained this content for over a decade, but went undiscovered. Bird Library staff has sent the book to have the page containing the language removed and repaired.

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 never too late to come forward with information on any bias incident or crime. 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

October 2023 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We know the past several weeks have been difficult for members for our campus community as the conflict in the Middle East has unfolded. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) team continues to work to provide a safe and respectful environment on our campus.

Listed below are some brief updates from the Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS) team:

• Engagement Efforts
• Community Police Academy Graduates
• Preparing Residences for Break
• Fire Prevention
• Employees of the Month
• Monthly Bias Update

Engagement Efforts

Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to connect with our campus community. Here is what our team has been up to and has planned:

DPS Game Nights: We have enjoyed being able to engage with our students through our DPS Game Nights, where we provide a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Oculus Quest for use. There is only one game night left on the schedule this semester. You can find us in the Schine Student Center from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

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

Reassurance Station: In partnership with Title IX and Apartment and Off-Campus Living, DPS held its “Reassurance Station” during Halloween weekend. Hundreds of students stopped by our table setup at 401 Euclid Ave., outside of Lyons Hall. Representatives from the aforementioned offices provided snacks while they reminded students of important safety tips and answered student questions. We look forward to continuing this initiative.

Crime Prevention Workshops: Crime prevention and education are important measures in reducing crime. Members of the Investigations and Crime Prevention Section provide crime prevention and general security and safety awareness presentations when requested by students, University employees and community groups.

Our team has recently held these workshops with various Syracuse University fraternities and sororities. To learn more about these workshops and request one please visit the Crime Prevention Workshop Request Form webpage.

Community Police Academy Graduates

Congratulations to our campus community members who completed our third Community Police Academy! This free four-week program, which took place throughout the month of October, is designed to give community members an idea of what it is like to be a member of the DPS team.

We are already hard at work preparing for our next iteration of the Community Police Academy slated for spring 2024. To learn more about this program and apply please visit the Community Police Academy webpage.

Preparing Residences for Break

As many of you plan to depart campus for Thanksgiving Break, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to take necessary action to protect your residences, offices, cubicle spaces and belongings. Please review our recommended safety strategies to secure your spaces.

While many members of our community will be 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.

Fire Prevention

Our Fire and Life Safety Services team was busy throughout October promoting safety strategies in honor of Fire Prevention Week. In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. We recommend that you take a moment to review our fire safety strategies on our website.

Employees of the Month

Scott Manchin of the Video Access Security Technology Team (VASTT) and Officers Michael Gabriell, John Romano and Jessica Zaccari have been selected as our September 2023 Employees of the Month. Congratulations on a job well done! To read about their accomplishments, please visit the Employee of the Month webpage.

Monthly Bias Update

Nov. 1: Antisemitic language was discovered on a cubicle desk on the first floor of Bird Library and reported anonymously through the Stop Bias Portal.

Update: Facilities Services removed the graffiti swiftly. DPS officers thoroughly canvassed Bird Library; no additional graffiti was discovered. DPS investigators reviewed available video footage near the affected area. If you, or anyone you know, has information about this incident, we ask that you reach out to DPS right away.

Oct. 11: Bias motivated graffiti was discovered in two areas in Day Hall. A swift investigation determined that the graffiti was present during move-in in August 2023.

Update: DPS officers met with the reporting parties to gather additional information and offer support resources and services. DPS conducted a floor-by-floor canvass of Day Hall to check for additional graffiti; no other graffiti was discovered. The graffiti was removed.

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 never too late to come forward with information on any bias incident or crime. 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
Student Experience Division