News

January 2022 Updates From DPS

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

Spring Semester Reminders From the Department of Public Safety

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Welcome back to campus for the Spring 2022 semester. As the semester gets underway, we wanted to share with you important information and reminders from the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS Communications

For those of you who are new to our campus, we want to inform you of why, how and when you will receive communications from DPS. For our returning community members, this serves as a reminder.

First, you will receive a monthly email from the department with critical updates. Additionally, there are other times you will receive messages from our team.

We issue broad communications across the campus community:

  • 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 campus and we need community members to avoid the area.
  • When a perpetrator is at large on or immediately adjacent to campus and we need the community’s help locating the individual.

Broad communications will not be issued:

  • 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 broadly any bias-related incident within 48 hours, we will always prioritize maintaining the integrity of an investigation, especially when we are following active leads.

Visit the DPS website to review additional information about how DPS uses emergency notification and public safety messages.

Download the Rave Guardian Safety Mobile App

Last spring, we introduced the Rave Guardian app. 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.

Safety Strategies

Our chief priority is your health, safety and well-being. Below are some actions you can take to protect yourself while at your residence, on campus or out in the community.

  • Always lock your windows and doors, even if you’re only going to be away from your room for a short period of time or while you’re sleeping at night. Criminals look for opportunities like an open window or unlocked door.
  • Keep your stuff with you! Never leave cell phones, laptops, wallets or other valuables out of your sight—it only takes a few seconds for someone to walk away with them.
  • Use a U-bolt locking device for your bicycle and register your bike with DPS.
  • Never walk alone. Most street crime incidents occur at night and usually involve students walking alone or with just one other person.
  • Connecting with DPS is as easy as opening an app on your smartphone. With Rave Guardian, you can call DPS or 911 in the event of an emergency; report tips, including pictures; or use the SafeWalk feature, which permits you to virtually share your location with friends as you walk to a destination. Download the app today!
  • Run. Hide. Fight.: In the event of an active shooter situation, it’s important to be prepared. We created a video for you to understand the importance of these three words: Run. Hide. Fight.

For additional information, be sure to review the University’s resources and the DPS website.

Please continue to check your email for additional information and updates.

Sincerely,

The Department of Public Safety

November 2021 Updates from DPS

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