DPS Monthly Updates

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Given the senseless acts of violence our country continues to experience, I want to assure you that our main priority is, and always will be, the safety of our campus. The team at Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The full extent of our services, resources and programming can be found on our website.

While fewer members of our community are on campus during the summer months, our team is using this time to conduct trainings and align our work with best practices in safety measures on college campuses.

I’d like to provide a few important updates in this edition of the monthly Department of Public Safety (DPS) email. I will address:

• New Peace Officer Academy
• Community Police Academy Update
• R.A.D. Classes Returning for Fall 2022
• Monthly Bias Update

New Peace Officer Academy

On Thursday, May 19, seven new recruits were sworn into the Syracuse University campus peace officer academy by Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile. Chief Cecile performed the swearing in of the academy recruits as an official welcome and endorsement of the joint law enforcement efforts in the University area, and to provide these campus peace officers with authority to enforce New York State law and local ordinances upon completion of their training. In addition to the seven recruits that will work for DPS upon completion, there is an additional recruit training to become a member of the public safety team at Ithaca College. He was sworn in by Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne on Thursday, May 12. I look forward to seeing the work these individuals will put in over the next 20 weeks and beyond.

Community Police Academy

Like I announced last month, we are in the beginning stages of planning to host an annual Community Police Academy during the Fall 2022 semester. Our team is already finalizing the curriculum for this program, and we have secured the following dates:

• Wednesday, Oct. 5
• Wednesday, Oct. 12
• Wednesday, Oct. 19
• Wednesday, Oct. 26

Each week, the class will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Lyman Hall. We are also planning a graduation ceremony at the end of the last session. As details continue to develop, I will share them with the campus community.

R.A.D. Classes Returning for Fall 2022

R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. The program uses realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for individuals who want to learn such 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.

Join the Department of Public Safety for a women-only self-defense course on the following dates:

• Sunday, Sept. 18
• Sunday, Sept. 25
• Sunday, Oct. 2
• Sunday, Oct. 9

To learn more and register, visit the DPS website at dps.syr.edu.

Monthly Bias Update

At this time, I have no new updates to share. However, if we do have additional updates, we will update the chart on our website and share any developments in this monthly email.

As a reminder, 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 or the Rave Guardian mobile app. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the STOP Bias website.

I wish you all a safe and productive summer. I look forward to providing additional updates in the months ahead.

Chief Craig Stone
Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

I recently concluded my first month as a member of the Syracuse University community. I have enjoyed my time meeting with so many of you, including the Graduate Student Organization, Student Association, University Senate and Resident Association Advisory Board just to name a few, and look forward to connecting with even more of you.

I have also been spending one-on-one time with the dedicated team members in Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services to learn about our unit and the work each individual performs on a daily basis. This is a terrific team and I’m honored to be a part of it.

Additionally, I have already identified several goals for the Department of Public Safety (DPS). They include:

• continuing to work with and enhance our relationships with our internal and external partners to keep the campus community safe;
• creating and maintaining an environment in which all members of our campus community are safe, feel safe, and feel appreciated and welcome;
• increasing our proactive efforts in formal programs and informal interactions with our students through education and crime prevention efforts; and
• continuously assessing and evaluating our efforts by seeking advanced accreditation.

Now that I’ve shared some early observations and goals, I’d like to provide a few important updates in this edition of the monthly DPS email. I will address:

• Securing Your Residence
• Student of Color Advisory Committee
• Community Police Academy
• Monthly Bias Update

Securing Your Residence

We have experienced multiple burglaries in off-campus neighborhoods in recent weeks. Unfortunately, in every incident, no forced entry has occurred. The perpetrators are entering through unlocked doors and windows and taking advantage of what they perceive as easy targets. I’d like to remind you of some steps you can take to keep yourself and your property safe.

• Lock your doors and windows, even if you are going to be away for just a short period of time.
• Hide or lock up your valuables; do not leave them where criminals can easily see them.
• Remind your roommates to take the same action.
• Remain vigilant.

For more safety tips, visit the Safety Strategies webpage.

Student of Color Advisory Committee

The nomination period for the Student of Color Advisory Committee just concluded. I look forward to reviewing the nominations and working to reestablish this important committee in the coming weeks.

Community Police Academy

We are in the beginning stages of planning to host an annual Community Police Academy during the Fall 2022 semester. The goal of this program is to assist with building better relationships with our community by giving them a deeper insight into the work of DPS. I look forward to sharing additional details in forthcoming emails.

Monthly Bias Update

April 1: Report of an individual shouting hateful language that is derogatory and offensive to the LGBTQ+ community.

Update: Our team conducted interviews with the reporting party and individuals in the area, and performed an extensive review of the available camera footage. We continue to look for additional leads and urge anyone with information to come forward.

April 9: An individual in a moving vehicle shouted anti-LGBTQ+ language.

Update: Our team completed multiple canvasses of the area, conducted interviews with the reporting party and individuals in the area and performed an extensive review of the available camera footage. We are working to identify additional leads.

If we do have additional updates, we will update the chart on our website and share any developments in this monthly email.

As a reminder, 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 or the Rave Guardian mobile app. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the Stop Bias website.

With classes ending this week and finals starting, I wish you all good luck. Finish the semester strong and enjoy your time this summer.

Finally, to the Class of 2022, though these last few years have been a challenge with the pandemic, you have persevered. I wish you all the best as you take on new challenges and opportunities in the future!

Sincerely,

Chief Craig Stone
Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

We hope that everyone is having a strong start to the spring semester. This month we are going to highlight the following:

• Preparing Your Residence for Spring Break
• Be Alert for Phishing Scams
• Monthly Bias Update

Preparing Your Residence for Spring Break

Spring Break is right around the corner, and we want to remind those who will be leaving campus to make sure you are properly preparing your residence before you leave. To enhance your safety and protect your personal space and belongings, we recommend taking the following steps.

On campus:

• Secure doors and windows.
• Close all curtains/blinds.
• Make sure to lock your room door; if you have a roommate, make sure they are locking the room as well.
• Do not give your keys out.
• Mark/engrave all items of value and keep a record, including serial numbers.
• Do not leave credit cards, blank checks or other valuables readily accessible; these can be taken and used by a thief before you know they are gone.

For those who live off campus:

• Make your house look occupied; buy a timer that automatically turns on interior and exterior lights at a predetermined time, or when there is motion.
• Be sure your outdoor lighting is working and sufficient.
• Lock sliding glass doors and place a wooden dowel or metal bar in the track of the door.
• Take anything valuable with you (i.e., laptop computer, video game console).
• Do not leave any valuable items near windows.
• Take pictures of anything valuable and ensure that you have installed tracking software and documented the serial numbers of all electronic devices.
• Unplug all electrical items, except your refrigerator and timers.
• If you have a security alarm, make sure you turn it on when leaving.

As a reminder, if you see anything suspicious, for on campus, please call DPS at 315.443.2224 or use the Rave Guardian app, or, for off campus, call the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5111.

Be Alert for Phishing Scams

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is warning U.S. organizations to beware of a possible rise in state-sponsored cyberattacks.

Our information security colleagues within Information Technology Services (ITS) have not detected any marked increase in activity over the past week but continue to monitor for and prevent attacks. One of the most effective paths for an attacker to gain a foothold on the Syracuse University network is through phishing emails and other social engineering techniques.

Please take moment to review an alert the ITS team recently shared with the community.

Monthly Bias Update

Feb. 4: Reports of racist, threatening language directed toward the Asian community on the social media site, Discord, which markets itself as a virtual meeting and gathering space.

Update: The individual believed to be responsible for the social media posts has been identified. The case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

As a reminder, 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 or the Rave Guardian mobile app. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the Stop Bias website.

Sincerely,
The Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Welcome back to campus! We hope everyone had a safe and restful break. We have some important information we would like to share with you this month in addition to the email that was sent last week with spring semester safety reminders, including:

• New Director of Emergency Management
• Winter Weather Reminder
• DPS Peace Officer Academy Graduation
• Updates on Independent Review by Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch
• Monthly Bias Update

New Director of Emergency Management

Last month, we welcomed William Karnadi to our team in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) as our director of emergency management and business continuity planning. Karnadi joins Syracuse University from New York University, where he served as the emergency management manager for the last several years. We are happy to have Karnadi on board and part of our team!

Winter Weather Reminder

Now that the cold and snow has settled in, whether you are new or returning to the University, please take a moment to review the winter weather message that was sent out to our community in December. This message details how and when we will communicate in the event of extreme weather.

DPS Peace Officer Academy Graduation

We are proud to announce that our most recent Peace Officer Academy class graduated last Friday. The seven graduates received their diplomas in a small ceremony with family and colleagues. Five of the recruits will continue on with DPS and the other two will begin positions with Onondaga Community College and the New York State Inspector General’s Office.

Updates on Independent Review by Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch

To date, 95% of the 23 recommendations by Loretta Lynch’s team have been completed (55 out of 58 resolutions). The latest highlights include:

• The new South Campus Community Center opened on Small Road in late October 2021.
• Established body-worn camera equipment replacement and policy for supervisory weekly review of camera footage.
• Coordinated with the Student Activism Engagement Team to respond to campus protests.
• Initiated a mandate for “no plain-clothes” details for officers that respond to campus protests.
• Bias communications policy promulgated and checklists for bias incidents created.
• Planning and training for DPS officers on various DPS social media channels.
• Establishment of the Community Review Board to address complaints.
• Offficer field training and in-service programming, including procedural justice and hate crimes training.
• Collaborated with University communications team to streamline communications to the campus community relative to immediate threats and compliance with the Clery Act timely warnings provision.
• One Peace Officer Academy has been completed, and another will begin during the Spring 2022 semester.

Monthly Bias Update

We have no new updates to share on the status of our investigations. If we do have 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 or Rave Guardian mobile app. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the Stop Bias website.

Sincerely,
The Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

This will be our last message for 2021 and it will be the last time you will hear from me in this forum, as I am officially retiring on Dec. 31, 2021. It has been my honor to lead the Department of Public Safety (DPS), as your chief. I am grateful to all members of DPS, who do the best they can each and every day to keep our community safe. I am fortunate to have enjoyed the support of the Syracuse University community throughout my tenure and will miss you all. May you have a happy and healthy holiday season.

In this month’s email, I will be highlighting the following:

• Securing Your Living Space Before Break
• Community Review Board
• Download the Rave Guardian Safety Mobile App
• Monthly Bias Update

Securing Your Living Space Before Break

As you finish up the semester and get ready to head home for a longer break, please make sure that you lock the doors and windows to your residence. During the fall semester, we had several incidents where the suspects entered properties through suspected unlocked windows and doors. We did not see any incidents where forced entry had occurred. Consider bringing your valuable items home with you or making sure you are leaving them in secure places—not out in the open. The Department of Public Safety will still be here to patrol while you are gone but it is important that you take these proactive measures to keep your belongings and residence safe.

Community Review Board

Earlier this month, the formation of the Community Review Board (CRB) was announced. The board is chaired by Brianna Sclafani, student in the College of Law and graduate student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Other members of the CRB are the following:

• Yusuf S. Abdul-Qadir, Graduate Student, School of Information Studies
• Guilherme Maurell Costa, Senior Associate Vice President and Deputy University Secretary, Office of the Board of Trustees
• Liz Green, Executive Director, Online Student Success, Vice-Chair
• Keith L. Henderson, Chief Compliance Officer, Office of University Counsel
• Theresa A. Jenkins, Academic Advisor, Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Milton R. Laufer, Director and Associate Professor, School of Music, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Alexandra Zoey Pollack, Undergraduate Student, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• David J. Williams, Undergraduate Student, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Corrinne B. Zoli, Research Faculty, Forensic Science Institute

In addition to these 11 members, it was also announced that Bethaida “Bea” González, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, will be senior advisor to the CRB and Melvin “Tony” Perez, former chief of public safety for Monroe Community College, will be the CRB’s expert law enforcement consultant.

The CRB will be responsible for reviewing appeals of civilian complaints regarding DPS officer conduct. Additionally, the CRB is tasked with reviewing and commenting on prospective new DPS policies, procedures and trainings; reviewing key community-facing functions of DPS; and issuing to the University community a public annual report of findings and recommendations.

Even though the CRB is completely independent of DPS, our team here welcomes the feedback from the board going forward.

Download the Rave Guardian Safety Mobile App

Have you downloaded the Rave Guardian app yet? It acts as a mobile blue light, right in the palm of your hand! This app replaced the LiveSafe app but still offers all the same features, including easily connecting with emergency resources, safety timers, anonymous tip reporting and quick access to critical resources. Please download this important app today! For more information about the app, including frequently asked questions, visit dps.syr.edu.

Monthly Bias Update

Since my communication last month, I have no new updates to share on the status of our investigations. As we do have updates, we will update our chart on the 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, submit information anonymously via the Silent Witness tool or the Rave Guardian mobile app. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the Stop Bias website.

I wish you all the best in all your future endeavors. It has been a pleasure to serve the Syracuse University community.

Sincerely,
Chief Bobby Maldonado