Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a FALSE report of a fire at Hendricks Chapel. Multiple agencies, including DPS, Fire and Life Safety Services, the Syracuse Police Department, the Syracuse Fire Department responded to the scene and confirmed it was a false report.
Together with the University’s law enforcement partners, DPS is investigating who is responsible for making this false report. If you have any information, please contact DPS or local police.
As a reminder, DPS responds to and investigates all calls, even those assumed to be false. Below, please find a detailed overview of how we respond to and communicate about false reports and what steps you can take to ensure MySlice has your most up-to-date information in the event DPS issues an Orange Alert.
How we respond to reported threats
When we learn of claims of a 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 emergency 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.
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.
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.
DPS is 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.
