Public Safety Notices 2019

Nearly every Halloween, rumored threats involving sexual assaults on sorority members are brought to our attention.  Though these rumors are uncorroborated, we investigate any and all threats of sexual assault.  Despite chatter on social media channels, at this time, there is no evidence to substantiate these threats or rumors. Please be aware that – due to Halloween and the anticipated increased social activity on and around campus – we have additional patrols working this evening and through the weekend. The Syracuse Police Department (SPD) has also committed to increasing their patrols during the same time period. We, in close partnership with the SPD, are working vigorously to maintain a safe campus community.

Our chief priority is and will always be the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. As such, the following units will continue its vigilance on and around our campus:

• Orange Watch patrols, which focuses on expanded DPS presence in key areas on North and South campuses and in the neighborhoods north and east of campus.
• The University Area Crime-control Team (UACT) patrols, which is staffed jointly by the DPS and the SPD and patrols in the immediate off-campus and fraternity/sorority neighborhoods focused on robbery and burglary suppression.

In addition, we will continue to:

• Monitor social media channels, talk with and listen to community members, assess reported threats and take action as appropriate.
• Increase our campus patrols’ focus on patrolling the outskirts of campus to prevent the victimization of community members.

We are constantly evaluating our practices to ensure that we are responsive to the safety concerns of our campus and surrounding neighborhoods. We encourage open dialogue with our community and urge you to report anything suspicious.

There are also a number of services available to our campus community members to help keep them and make them feel safe. Don’t hesitate to call for a safety escort (315.443.SAFE) and please sign up for the LiveSafe App on your smartphone, which acts as a mobile blue light, allowing you to contact the DPS Emergency Communications Center with the touch of a button and transmit your physical location during the call. We also have a list of safety strategies that we urge you to review.

If you have any additional information about these rumors, please call the DPS as soon as possible at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

This public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is alerting students, faculty and staff about a blackmail scam – leveraging social media sites – making its way around university campuses. Here’s what we know about the scam:

• Victims have experienced this scam while engaging and corresponding with unknown individuals on social media sites.
• The perpetrators of the scam request explicit photos from the victim.
• The perpetrators then threaten to release the photos over social media sites if the victims do not provide money to keep them private.

If you have received this message or know someone who has received it, please call the DPS as soon as possible at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

Fraudulent scams happen every day; please take a moment to review these tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid fraud.

This public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.

On Saturday, October 19, 2019, just before 10:30 p.m., a student reported a burglary in progress at their residence in the 300 block of Comstock Ave. The student said there were three male suspects, one of whom shoved the student while fleeing from the residence with the student’s property. The other suspect reportedly threatened to have a weapon, however no weapon was ever displayed. The suspects fled the scene on foot, heading in an unknown direction on Comstock Ave. No injuries were reported.

If you were in the vicinity at the time of this incident, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) asks for your help in identifying the suspects. Suspect #1 is described as a male, mid-teens wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Suspect #2 is described as a male, mid-teens wearing a green hooded sweatshirt. Suspect #3 is described as a male, mid-teens; no further description available.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident or others, please contact the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5222 or the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool.

If you or someone you know has been affected by an incident on or near campus, please know that there are resources available to you. In addition, for your safety, please review these suggested safety strategies.

This public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.