News

March 2026 Updates From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) remains committed to partnering with each of you to keep our campus community safe. Please take a moment to review the important information below.

This monthly update includes:

  • Orange Alert System Test March 19
  • Know About TAMT: Threat Assessment and Management Team
  • Keeping Your Vehicle Safe
  • Warmer Weather Safety Reminders

Orange Alert System Test

DPS will conduct a full test of the Orange Alert System on Thursday, March 19, at 1:55 p.m. The test will include notifications sent via email, text message and voice call, as well as the Orange Alert outdoor siren system on the University’s North and South campuses. Sirens will be activated for two minutes at 1:55 p.m.

The Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the Orange Safe and OrangeNow apps, to the main Syracuse University and DPS social media accounts, and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors in common areas across campus.

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

What you should do before March 19: Log into your MySlice account and verify your contact information is up to date. Select the Personal Profile tile, then select “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu to review your information. Make sure your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device so you receive text messages. For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit the DPS website.

Know About TAMT: Threat Assessment and Management Team

Your safety is our priority. The Syracuse University Threat Assessment and Management Team (TAMT) is an interdisciplinary group of trained professionals dedicated to evaluating and addressing potential physical threats to our campus community.

TAMT is a proactive team that meets regularly to review concerning behaviors and develop strategies to keep our campus safe. The team monitors situations until they are resolved and participates in ongoing training to stay current with best practices.

When Should You Report to TAMT?

If you observe or experience behavior that raises concerns about potential threats to physical safety, TAMT wants to know. This could include threatening or violent language, obsessive or concerning fixation on individuals, sudden behavioral changes that raise safety concerns, or any situation that makes you feel unsafe.

How to Report:

All reports are handled with appropriate confidentiality and professionalism.

Keeping Your Vehicle Safe

With warmer weather approaching, more vehicles will be on the road and in campus parking areas. Here are a few simple steps to help protect your vehicle:

  • Always lock your car, even if you’ll only be away for a few minutes.
  • Never leave valuables—such as laptops, backpacks, bags, wallets or electronics—visible inside your vehicle. Place them in the trunk or, if you can, take valuables with you!
  • Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas whenever possible.
  • Take your keys and fob with you; never leave a spare inside the car.
  • Report any suspicious activity around vehicles to DPS at 315.443.2224.

If your vehicle is broken into or stolen, report it to DPS immediately.

Warmer Weather Safety Reminders

The coming weeks will bring warmer temperatures and more opportunities to spend time outdoors. Here are a few reminders to help you stay safe as the season changes:

  • Stay aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone at night or in less-traveled areas of campus. When possible, travel with friends.
  • Use the Orange Safe app’s Safe Walk feature or request a safety escort shuttle when traveling after dark.
  • As outdoor events and gatherings pick up, look out for your friends and fellow community members, seek assistance for a friend in need and walk in groups. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and contact DPS.
  • Keep your residence and belongings secure: lock doors and windows, and never prop open residence hall doors for others.

We Are Here to Help

As a reminder, if you have information 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. To report a bias incident or receive support, visit the STOP Bias website.

DPS is here 24/7 to serve the Syracuse University community. If you see something concerning or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Syracuse Women’s Volleyball Teams Up with DPS for Empowering Self-Defense Course

Article written by Alexa Selter, senior and Communication and Marketing Assistant for DPS

Feeling safe on campus goes beyond knowing who to call. It means having the tools and confidence to protect yourself when it matters most.

In partnership with Syracuse University’s Women’s Volleyball team, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) hosted a hands-on self-defense class designed to give student athletes practical skills to defend themselves if they ever encounter an aggressor. Led by certified DPS instructors, the session covered techniques ranging from strikes and kicks to choke defense, paired with discussions on nightlife awareness, safety planning, and relationship violence. Above all, the session was built around one core objective.

“To give them proper techniques in case they ever come across a situation that could potentially cause harm to them.,” said Sergeant Kara Salce, who helped lead the initiative.

The course also introduced players to the OrangeSafe app, a campus safety resource that allows students to share their location with trusted contacts and connect quickly with DPS. Participants discussed the importance of having a plan in place before going out, knowing who has your location, and recognizing the warning signs of relationship violence early.

“Statistically speaking, there is a very high chance we get into a situation where we will have to defend ourselves. I think it’s important that we all learn these valuable skills,” said Mira Ledermueller, a junior and setter for her team.

The goal was not to create fear, but to foster confidence. DPS hopes that every student who participates walks away feeling empowered to fully enjoy their campus experience, knowing they have the awareness and ability to keep themselves safe.

Know Before You Go

A few simple habits can make a significant difference in your personal safety:

  • Download OrangeSafe. Share your location with a trusted contact before heading out for the night with SafeWalk.
  • Have a plan. Know what you will do and who you will call if something goes wrong.
  • Stay aware. Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar or crowded settings.
  • Look out for each other. Check in with friends and never leave someone behind.

Recognize the Signs of Relationship Violence

Abuse does not always look the same. Warning signs can include:

  • Controlling behavior, such as demanding your passwords or constantly monitoring your location
  • Isolating you from friends, teammates or campus resources
  • Threats, intimidation or using self-harm to prevent you from leaving
  • Ignoring boundaries and consent

If something feels wrong, trust that instinct. Controlling or threatening behavior is never a sign of care.

Get Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship violence or feels unsafe, support is available:

  • Barnes Center at The Arch: 315.443.8000
  • Syracuse University DPS: 315.443.2224
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233 (24/7 support)

You do not have to face this alone. Together, we can build a safer campus for everyone.

A special thank you to the Syracuse Women’s Volleyball team for joining us and embracing this experience with such enthusiasm and openness.

Getting to Know DPS: A Conversation with Officer Yoeun

Story by Alexa Selter, DPS Communication and Marketing Assistant,

Every night at 6 p.m., Officer Yoeun begins his shift with the Department of Public Safety. But his connection to Syracuse University and to the students he serves goes much deeper than a job description.

Yoeun has been with Syracuse DPS for three years, but his career in helping young people spans much longer. Before joining the department, he spent seven years as a school sentry with the Syracuse City School District, working on the front lines with students, teachers, and families. 

“I was always in the field of helping people,” Yoeun says. “Most of the time in this kind of line of work, you’re with people in their darkest times. I found that just being there, just listening, helping redirect, that became something I was passionate about.”

Finding His Way to Campus

How Yoeun discovered DPS is a story in itself. While working security at a high school football game, he met a Syracuse football player who invited him to attend an SU game. It was his first time on campus, despite having grown up in Syracuse since moving from the Bronx in 2005. 

“I actually grew up like a rock toss from campus,” he laughs. “But when I came to the game, I was like, ‘Oh, DPS, wow, I didn’t know they had their own force.’ I kind of just figured the Syracuse Police responded to everything. So that’s how I found the job. I feel like God’s timing led me here.”

What drew him to stay was the community in it of itself. With about 22,000 people calling Syracuse home for most of the year, Youen saw an opportunity to make a real impact. 

“They come from all over the world, and this is where they call home,” he says. “Being able to protect them and do my best to allow them to have the best experience here in Syracuse, that’s something special to me.”

Being Proactive, Not Just Reactive

Working the night shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Yoeun has made it his mission to be a visible, approachable presence on and around campus. Whether he’s patrolling Marshall Street, Walnut Park, or the neighborhoods surrounding campus, his goal is simple: be there before something goes wrong. 

“I hated how in our field of work, a lot of times we’re reactive,” he explains. “We get a call, we react to the call. I think there’s something special about being proactive and being a presence.”

The proactive approach often means offering rides to students walking home alone late at night, checking in with people he sees around campus, or simply being someone students can turn to when they need help. 

“I can’t count the amount of times I’ve given people rides because it was too cold out or too late at night,” Yoeun says. “Those that study late at Bird and now they’re walking home at three or four in the morning, why not help them get home safely?”

Moments That Matter

When asked about his favorite part of the job, Yoeun returns to a memory that clearly stays with him: encountering a student weeks after responding to a difficult call. 

“I helped a student who was going through a tough time,” he shares. “I saw her weeks later, and she came up to me and said, ‘Thank you.’ That meant a lot to me because we see a lot of people at their darkest times, and sometimes it’s ugly work. But being there after they’ve gone through something like that and hearing her say thank you, she was away from family, away from everything she knows and loves, and we were who she reached out to.”

It’s moments like these that remind him why the work matters. 

“You don’t always see it, but when you do, you can see in their eyes that they’re genuine and very thankful. That’s what keeps me going.”

Building Trust Through Relatability

As a first-generation college student whose parents came to the U.S. as refugees from Cambodia during the genocide, Yoeun understands what it means to navigate unfamiliar territory without a roadmap. 

“My parents came here not knowing any English, not having $1, but they were resilient,” he says. “When I went to college, I was the first in my family. I think that allows me to be relatable to some of the students here because not everyone has siblings who went to college or whatever it may be.” 

For Yoeun, community policing is about looking past the uniform and allowing students to see him as a person, someone approachable, vulnerable, and genuinely invested in their well-being. 

“There’s been times where I see people playing basketball, and I’ll take a shot or just start a conversation,” he says. “I think that helps. It’s about being relatable.” 

Beyond the Uniform

Outside of work, Yoeun is a dad to two daughters, ages two and five, who keep him on his toes. Balancing the night shift with family life isn’t always easy, but he and his wife have found ways to make it work.

“The next day you wake up late, and my kids are up, and here I am still sleeping,” he laughs. “That part is tough, but the nighttime on campus is fun.”

When he’s on campus, his favorite spot is the Promenade, especially during bike patrol. “There’s so much going on there. People walking, watching the sunset, playing Frisbee, eating, chatting. I just love seeing that.”

Here for the Community

Yoeun’s message to the Syracuse University community is straightforward: DPS exists because students exist. 

“We’re here for you,” he says. “A lot of people think they’ll get in trouble, but sometimes if you just need someone to talk to, whatever it is, we’re here. Our goal is to help you any way we can.”

Whether it’s responding to emergencies, offering a ride on a cold night, or simply being a familiar face on campus, officers like Yoeun are working to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and seen.