News

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Over the last 24 hours, our community has experienced two swatting incidents targeting Maxwell and Eggers Halls. Swatting is when an anonymous caller makes an intentionally false report of the presence of an active shooter to stoke fear among the targeted communities. They have increased in prevalence in recent years and often target schools, colleges and universities. I appreciate these calls can be traumatic for members of our community and can create fear and panic.

We take all these reports seriously and investigate fully. Despite both of these incidents being swatting calls, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) will maintain increased patrols at Maxwell and Eggers Halls. DPS is also in contact with the FBI and local law enforcement as the investigation into who made these calls continues.

Given these recent incidents, I wanted to write this afternoon to remind you about DPS protocols for responding to reported threats and how we communicate them to our community.

How we respond to reported threats

When we learn of claims of an active shooter situation that lack immediate credibility (no additional calls to 911, security footage showing no abnormal behavior, etc.) on campus, our DPS officers immediately respond to the report’s location where they work swiftly to confirm the veracity of the report. When responding to these reports, DPS officers will appear on the scene as they would in the event of a confirmed threat. For example, they will respond in significant numbers so you will likely observe multiple officers on foot and several patrol cars. The officers will respond, in many cases, with their weapons drawn as is standard law enforcement protocol. The officers will conduct a canvas of the scene and once the threat is discredited, it is then that DPS will communicate broadly with our campus community.

How we communicate about confirmed and discredited threats

In the event of a confirmed active shooter situation, you will receive immediate communications from DPS via the Orange Alert System. Orange Alert provides rapid notification and instructions to Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students, faculty and staff. Orange Alert will communicate what the threat is and what, if any, action community members should take to as a result. If you haven’t, I urge you to review our Run. Hide. Fight. video, which explains in detail how the University responds to active shooter threats. Review the video on the DPS website.

We reserve the use of this system for situations where there is an active or imminent threat of physical danger to our campus community. That is because when you receive an Orange Alert, we need you to know to take immediate action as directed. Orange Alert will leverage the following communications methods:

• email;
• text messaging;
• social media networks;
• cell/landline phone calls to send a brief notice about the incident and instructions about what actions to take; and
• sirens that sound on North Campus and South Campus.

After an Orange Alert message is broadcasted, more detailed follow-up information will be provided until it is determined the threat has been eliminated.

Please note: There is a scheduled test of the Orange Alert system on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 1:55 p.m. More information regarding this test will be sent in an additional email.

Sign up for Orange Alerts in MySlice

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

My colleagues and I 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. Finally, remember that the Department of Public Safety is here for you 24/7 by calling 315.443.2224 or by connecting on the Orange Safe app.

Sincerely,

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

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently accepting applications for its fourth iteration of the Community Police Academy. The department invites all students, faculty and staff to apply for this free four-week program designed to give community members an idea of what it is like to protect and serve the campus community.

“The Community Police Academy has been a focal point of our community engagement efforts,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “The goal of the program is for the participants to leave with a better understanding of DPS policies and procedures while also gaining practical safety skills.”

The Fall 2023 Community Police Academy saw 17 members of the campus community graduate. Throughout the program, the participants took part in an expansive curriculum that included crime scene investigation, fire safety training, traffic control, CPR basics and defensive tactics for self-protection.

“We have continued to evolve the curriculum of the Community Police Academy,” says Officer George Wazen, Community Police Academy Coordinator, “We hope to welcome another group that is excited to learn more about DPS and have fun while doing it.”

For the Spring 2024 semester, the program will run for four consecutive Wednesdays starting on Feb. 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Lyman Hall. Dinner will be provided all four weeks. To learn more and apply, visit dps.syr.edu.

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, I 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 uses emergency notification 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.

When 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.

When we will not issue broad communications:

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

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.

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

Bias Incidents

In 2020, we introduced a Bias Incident Reports webpage where we aggregate bias-related incidents. Bias-related incidents are posted to this page within 48 hours, unless posting will impede or jeopardize an active investigation. This protocol has been developed in partnership with the Syracuse Police Department, New York State Police, the FBI and district attorney’s office and is aligned with best practices of peer universities.

Throughout the winter break the webpage has undergone some updates to increase transparency and create an improved user experience. Updates to the webpage include:

• Addition of a subscriber sign-up webpage which allows you to receive bias incident reports directly to your inbox (previous subscribers have been transferred to the new system).
• Improved bias incident investigative tracker and archive, which includes a full archive of past bias incidents and allows for new ways to filter and review all incidents.
• Integration of a standalone page dedicated to bias incident related resources that are available to our students, faculty and staff.

Additionally, we have incorporated access to these new resources into the user interface of the Orange Safe app.

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 and South Campus. After an Orange Alert message is broadcasted, 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 have your most up-to-date contact information inputted.

Sign Up in MySlice

To receive the aforementioned communications, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to log in to MySlice to ensure their contact information for Orange Alert is up to date. It is important to note that 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
Student Experience Division