The ECC team is comprised of highly trained personnel adept at handling a wide range of situations with calmness and efficiency. Whether it’s handling emergency calls, coordinating with DPS officers or providing crucial information during critical incidents, these dispatchers are always ready to offer their support.

“The ECC is the problem-solving center of this campus. Whether it comes to lockouts, dead car batteries or something more serious, we can help or get a hold of the staff who can help solve the problem,” says Michael Wilson, public safety dispatcher. “We even assist our Orange family who study abroad in Florence and London!”

Their work is not just about answering calls; it’s about ensuring the safety and security of students, faculty and staff on campus. They operate 24/7, 365 days a year, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the campus community.

DPS Emergency Communications Center (Photo by Alex Haessig)

Mateo Tarrats, emergency communications center manager, believes the genuine care of the ECC staff is what makes them special, “Every single person that works on this staff is here because they care about the work they do. This is not an easy occupation. People gravitate towards this kind of work because they genuinely care about the well-being of others.”

The ability to manage tens of thousands of calls per year is not just a testament to their individual skills but also to their collective effort and dedication towards creating a safe and responsive campus environment.

“The most rewarding aspect is knowing every call you are going to be helping someone,” says Shannon Hogue, public safety dispatcher. “We go out of our way to find answers if we do not know them already.”

The ECC staff is always looking to help the campus community with the best service possible. NPSTW serves as a necessary reminder of all the work that happens behind the scenes. The DPS team is always available: Call us 24/7, 365 days a year at 315.443.2224. You can also reach us by dialing #78 (#SU) from your cell phone, dialing 711 from a campus landline or by utilizing the .

The Department of Public Safety’s new substation at 101 Marshall Street will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, Mar. 29. (Photo by Ross Oscar Knight)

DPS will also be offering $20 food vouchers to the first 44 students who stop by the event and have the Orange Safe app downloaded.

“This new space allows DPS to enhance our coverage in an area that not only serves our campus community but also visitors and alumni,” says , DPS chief and associate vice president. “I am looking forward to greater engagement with our campus community and welcoming students, faculty and staff to our new space on Friday.”

The hours of operation through the end of the spring semester are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The substation will have extended hours of 10 a.m.-3 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and 6 p.m.-3 a.m. on Saturday. It will be closed on Sunday.

Last year, the University initiated the establishment of the substation at the corner of Marshall Street and South Crouse Avenue. With the Sheraton Hotel and 727 Crouse being converted into student housing, it was vital for DPS to increase its footprint in the area to provide a visible presence to serve the campus community.

Marshall Street is one of the highest-traffic areas surrounding campus, and in addition to the new student housing projects, there are numerous restaurants, bars and shops that bring many visitors and alumni to the area.

DPS provides round-the-clock protection to the Syracuse University campus. Through various patrol and crime prevention efforts, DPS partners with students, faculty and staff to identify, recognize and eliminate crime hazards and risks within the campus community.

Pictured from left to right in the front row are First Deputy Chief Richard Shoff of the Syracuse Police Department, Donovan Green, Teng Kiir, Delana Thomas, Kit Diana and Thomas Bingham. Pictured from left to right in the back row are Sean McCaffery, Liam Welling, Keyatta Green, Barrington Wallace and Chief Craig Stone.

Nine new recruits were sworn into the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) Campus Peace Officer Academy on March 21 by Syracuse Police First Deputy Chief Richard Shoff. Collaborating with the Syracuse Police Department on the swearing-in ceremony serves as an official welcome and endorsement of the joint law enforcement efforts in the University area, and to provide these campus peace officers with the authority to enforce New York State law and local ordinances upon completion of the academy.��

The recruits sworn into this academy class are:��

• Thomas Bingham��
• Kit Diana��
• Donovan Green��
• Keyatta Green��
• Teng Kiir��
• Sean McCaffery��
• Delana Thomas��
• Barrington Wallace��
• Liam Welling��

The nine individuals listed above are training to become Syracuse University campus peace officers. One additional recruit, Jay Kreis, is joining this peace officer academy and will be heading to Onondaga Community College upon completion.��

“We are excited to welcome this group of recruits and work with them over the next several months,” said Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director. This is now the eighth time that the Department of Public Safety has held its own peace officer academy.��

During the academy, these recruits will be subject to technical, physical, classroom and field-based tests. Upon successful completion of the academy, graduates progress to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks.��

Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the Department of Public Safety, addressed the friends and families of the recruits. “We are excited to welcome new members to our team and all of them have prior customer service experience. They will assist us in keeping the campus community safe and increasing community engagement with our students as we strive to obtain advanced CALEA accreditation,” he said.��

The University’s Department of Public Safety provides round-the-clock protection to the Syracuse University campus. Through various patrol and crime prevention efforts, DPS partners with students, faculty, and staff to identify, recognize and eliminate crime hazards and risks within the campus community.��

CPA academy receives instruction from Sgt. Stephens.

On March 6, 33 members of the campus community graduated from the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Community Police Academy (CPA). The 33 graduates are nearly double the 17 that graduated from the Fall 2023 CPA.

The CPA is a free four-week program designed to give students, faculty and staff an idea of what it is like to protect and serve the campus community. During their time in the program, participants learned from guest presenters, including certified instructors from DPS, Syracuse Police and Syracuse University Ambulance.

Spring 2024 CPA graduates with DPS instructors

The CPA wrapped up with a ceremony where the graduates were presented with CPA graduation certificate from Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “The CPA is vital in our efforts to engage with and build trust with our campus community,” says Stone. “We nearly doubled the number of graduates from our previous CPA. It is a testament to the hard work of our instructors for developing, obtaining feedback from graduates, and improving a program that continues to gain momentum within our community.”

Officer George Wazen, coordinator of the CPA, is thankful the campus community has embraced the program with such enthusiasm.

“To see the excitement around the CPA continue to grow each semester is inspiring for us as instructors. To have this forum to host members of our community and learn from each other is invaluable to us at DPS,” says Wazen. Finding ways to innovate and have an interactive curriculum is paramount. “Thanks to feedback from our graduates we are already evaluating how to evolve the program in the future,” he says.

Dates for the next CPA during the Fall 2024 semester are in the process of being finalized. To learn more about the program, visit and follow DPS on social media ) for updates.

In addition to email, text and voice messages, the Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the , to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and X accounts, and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

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

“As we do every semester, it is time for us to do a full-scale test of the Orange Alert System,” says William Karnadi, director of emergency management and business continuity planning. “Ahead of the test on Tuesday, please log into your MySlice account and verify that your contact information is up to date. This includes making sure that your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device so that you receive our text messages.”

To review and/or modify your Orange Alert contact information, go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and review your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link. If you are an ESF student, use the ESF emergency contact information page to update your information.

For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit .

“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.

Fall 2023 CPA graduates along with Chief Stone and instructors from DPS (Photo courtesy of DPS)

“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 .

In addition to email, text and voice messages, the Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the , to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and Twitter accounts, and will display on the University’s homepage and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

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

“As we do every semester, it is time for us to do a full-scale test of the Orange Alert System,” says William Karnadi, director of emergency management and business continuity planning. “Ahead of the test on Wednesday, please go into your MySlice account and verify that your contact information is up to date. This includes making sure that your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device, so that you receive our text messages.”

To review and/or modify your Orange Alert contact information, go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home, depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and review your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link. If you are an ESF student, use the ESF emergency contact information page to update your information.

For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit .

Sergeant John Stephens of DPS helps a Youth Leadership Camp participant use the virtual reality headset.

Engaging with the campus community is a main priority for the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS); however, the desire to connect and have meaningful interactions extends well beyond the borders of campus. Throughout the summer, DPS collaborated with numerous partners to partake in two summer programs that brought local high school students to the Syracuse University campus to learn and work alongside the DPS team.

“Syracuse University is a pillar in the local community,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “DPS has increased our community engagement on campus and the community at large. Our team enjoyed spending time with our youth and exposing them to opportunities at Syracuse University.”

Each program provided a unique experience to the local high school students who participated.

Summer Internship Program

DPS proudly took part in the University’s Summer Internship program hosted by the Office of Community Engagement in collaboration with the Syracuse City School District Career and Technical Education program.

Two of the rising seniors partaking in the Summer Internship Program chat with new Syracuse University Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Adrian Autry.

Rising high school seniors participated in this six-week work opportunity that aligned them with their chosen learning pathway. Throughout the six weeks, the three student interns interacted with the entire Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services (CSEMS) team, rotating between different units.

Summer Internship Coordinator for DPS, Commander Michael Hartnett, was thrilled by the work of the interns, “The three young women that took part in our summer internship program were exceptional. They accomplished so much throughout the summer and helped our CSEMS team tackle various projects.”

The three interns were recognized at the end of the six weeks with a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments alongside other interns who spent time with various other departments at the University.

Youth Leadership Camp

Our first annual Youth Leadership Camp ran throughout July. This was yet again another collaboration with the Syracuse City School District and their Career and Technical Education program, which brought rising ninth graders to campus for four days. The students participated in an expansive curriculum, including learning sessions that focused on life, career and education skills. The group also got out of the classroom to tour campus, see the athletics facilities, use the esports gaming room, try virtual reality law enforcement scenarios and learn how to use a fire extinguisher.

“I am thankful for all of the instructors and other groups that we collaborated with on our first ever Youth Leadership Camp,” says Youth Leadership Camp Coordinator Sergeant John Stephens, “Above all, I am grateful to the group of students that spent the week with us; hopefully, they learned some new skills they can put to use as they begin high school.”

The Office of Community Engagement and Government Relations was also a key partner in making the Youth Leadership Camp a reality. DPS is already evaluating ways to expand and grow the program for next summer.

“I’m extremely proud of the initiatives our team at DPS took on this summer,” says Stone. “We will continue to find ways to engage with the community and craft programming that will make a positive impact in their development.”

Youth Leadership Camp and Summer Internship participants pose with certificates received from program instructors.

Community Police Academy (CPA)

Spring 2023 CPA graduates along with Chief Stone and instructors from DPS.

DPS is proud to offer a CPA for our students, faculty and staff.�� The CPA is a free four-week program designed to give eligible community members an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve our campus community.

Each session consists of weekly classes at Lyman Hall (room 020) where participants will discuss DPS programs, policies, and procedures. The comprehensive instruction includes open discussion and scenario-based role-playing. Our third CPA will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Oct. 4
• Wednesday, Oct. 11
• Wednesday, Oct. 18
• Wednesday, Oct. 25

Due to classroom size, space in this CPA is limited. To learn more and apply, visit the DPS website at .

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Classes

R.A.D. participants with DPS instructors

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently accepting sign-ups for its R.A.D. fall session. R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. This women-only self-defense course is being offered exclusively to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff on the following dates:

• Sunday, Oct. 1
• Sunday, Oct. 8
• Sunday, Oct. 15
• Sunday, Oct. 22

“The R.A.D. self-defense program is a pillar of the various trainings that DPS offers to the campus community,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “R.A.D. courses are taught by our nationally certified instructors who cultivate a welcoming environment where safety and self-defense measures are at the forefront.”

All sessions will be held in the Skybarn on South Campus from 5 to 8 p.m.; attendance is required for all four sessions. To learn more and register, visit the DPS website at or contact Michael Patsos (mpatsos@syr.edu).

2023 Campus Peace Officer recruits with instructors (front row left to right: Matthew Patire, Pised Yoeun, Johnathon Wazen and Samantha Nagen; back row left to right: Alex Hitchcock, Ivan Cruz, Montague Kreis, Sgt. Adam Wheeler, Officer Patsos and Officer Dishaw)

Earlier today, families, friends and colleagues of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Campus Peace Officer Academy recruits gathered together to celebrate their graduation. The ceremony, held at Drumlins Country Club, was an opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments but also look forward to the journey that awaits them.

“I believe that an officer’s job is more than just a craft and a profession. It is a career and a calling. Throughout your career, you will have the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives,” said Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the DPS, while addressing the friends and families of the recruits.

The graduates joining the Syracuse University DPS are:

• Montague Kreis
• Samantha Nagen
• Johnathon Wazen
• Pised Yoeun

The graduates joining the Ithaca College DPS are:

• Ivan Cruz
• Alex Hitchcock
• Matthew Patire

“Anytime we have held an academy, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment that you feel as it wraps up,” says Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director, “I’m proud of the growth that I saw from this group over the past several months.” This is now the seventh time that the Department of Public Safety has held its own peace officer academy.

During the ceremony, in addition to the badge pinning and certificates being distributed, special honors were given to a few of the graduates, including Montague Kreis and Johnathan Wazen, who received performance-based awards, while Matthew Patire was honored as the Valedictorian of the class.

The newest DPS graduates will now begin their time as field training officers, working side-by-side with veteran DPS officers as they complete the required 480 hours of training before becoming fully qualified officers and officially complete the training program.

The University’s Department of Public Safety provides round-the-clock protection to the Syracuse University campus. Through various patrol and crime prevention efforts, DPS partners with students, faculty and staff to identify, recognize and eliminate crime hazards and risks within the campus community.

Previous R.A.D. class with the instructors from DPS

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently accepting sign-ups for its R.A.D. summer session. R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. This women-only self-defense course is being offered exclusively to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff on the following dates:

• Sunday, June 18
• Sunday, June 25
• Sunday, July 9
• Sunday, July 16

“The R.A.D. self-defense program is a pillar of the various trainings that DPS offers to the campus community,” says Associate Vice President and DPS Chief Craig Stone. “R.A.D. courses are taught by our nationally certified instructors who cultivate a welcoming environment where safety and self-defense measures are at the forefront.”

All sessions will be held in the Skybarn on South Campus from 5 to 8 p.m. Faculty and staff have the option to attend with their daughters; please note that anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To learn more and register, visit the DPS website at or contact Michael Patsos at mpatsos@syr.edu.

Spring 2023 CPA graduates along with Chief Stone and instructors from DPS.

On March 8, members of the campus community graduated from the community police academy (CPA). The CPA is a free four-week program designed to give students, faculty and staff an idea of what it is like to protect and serve the campus community. During their time, participants learned from guest presenters, including certified instructors from DPS, , and .

The CPA culminated in a graduation ceremony where the graduates were presented with “Stop the Bleed” and CPA graduation certificates from Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “Building trust with our campus community is something that we are constantly focused on,” says Chief Stone. “The CPA has been a successful tool in helping strengthen the bonds with our community. I am grateful to both classes of the CPA that have graduated this academic year.”

Feedback from the CPA graduates about how the program was run was encouraging to see. Anne O’Connor, student support assistant in the School of Education, believes the CPA allowed her to have a better understanding of how DPS operates. “Now I know how things flow within DPS, especially in terms of jurisdiction and who can help me in what type of situation,” says O’Connor. “It also showed how many people are really involved to ensure the welfare and safety of every person on campus.”

Officer George Wazen, coordinator of the CPA, is encouraged by the growth he has seen with the program during its first year. “We are so fortunate that our campus community is enthusiastic about this initiative. We were able to increase our number of applicants and our number of graduates from our first CPA that was run in October,” says Wazen. Continuing to improve and expand the CPA is priority number one. “Our team is already hard at work with how we can continue to evolve the program for the future.,” he says.

O’Connor believes the CPA is not just for those who have an interest in law enforcement. “Even if you don’t necessarily have an interest in the police force, this program gave a lot more insight on how to be safe, and the right steps to take in case of any emergency on or off campus,” she says.

Dates for the next CPA during the Fall 2023 semester are in the process of being finalized. To learn more about the program, visit and follow DPS on social media ) for updates.

Pictured from left to right are, Deputy Chief Richard Shoff of the Syracuse Police Department, Montague Kreis, Dre Everson, Pised Yoeun, Johnathon Wazen, Samantha Nagen and Associate Vice President and Chief Craig Stone of the Department of Public Safety.

Five new recruits were sworn into the Syracuse University campus peace officer academy on Thursday, March 9, by Syracuse Police Deputy Chief Richard Shoff. Collaborating with the Syracuse Police Department on the swearing-in ceremony serves as an official welcome and endorsement of the joint law enforcement efforts in the University area, and to provide these campus peace officers with authority to enforce New York State law and local ordinances upon completion of the academy.

The recruits sworn into this academy class are:

• Dre Everson
• Montague Kreis
• Samantha Nagen
• Johnathon Wazen
• Pised Yoeun

The five individuals listed above are training to become Syracuse University campus peace officers. Three additional recruits are joining this peace officer academy and will be heading to Ithaca College upon completion.

“They will be tested throughout the next several months, but through hard work and dedication, they will become a part of something special,” said Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director. This is now the seventh time that the Department of Public Safety has held its own peace officer academy.

During the next several months, these recruits will be subject to technical, physical, classroom and field-based tests. Upon successful completion of the academy, graduates progress to field training with their respective field training officers for an additional 12 to 14 weeks.

Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the Department of Public Safety, addressed the friends and families of the recruits. “We are excited to welcome a group that wants to join our team and serve the campus community, we will support these recruits in every way we can,” he said.

The University’s Department of Public Safety provides round-the-clock protection to the Syracuse University campus. Through various patrol and crime prevention efforts, DPS partners with students, faculty, and staff to identify, recognize and eliminate crime hazards and risks within the campus community.

In addition to email, text and voice messages, the Orange Alert test message will also be sent via push notification to the , to the main Syracuse University and DPS Facebook and Twitter accounts and will display on the University’s web properties and video monitors located in common areas in several buildings around campus.

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

“As always we perform an Orange Alert test once per semester so that in the event of an emergency, you can anticipate how we will reach you,” says William Karnadi, director of emergency management and business continuity planning. “Before Thursday, please go into your MySlice account and verify that your contact information is up to date. This includes ensuring that your cell phone is categorized as a mobile device so that you receive our text messages.”

To review and/or modify your Orange Alert contact information, go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, then “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and review your information. If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select the “Add/Update/Delete Contact Details” link. If you are an ESF student, use the ESF emergency contact information page to update your information.

For additional information on the Orange Alert system, visit .

From left to right: Quartermaster Joseph Dishaw, Officer Kara Salce, Chief Craig Stone, Jay Gelb, Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves, Officer Charles Fiesinger

A generous donation made by a student’s family is helping strengthen the work of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide a safe and secure campus environment. The gift from Jay and Sandra Gelb, parents of College of Law students Matthew, Nicole and Robert, has allowed DPS to purchase two state-of-the-art electric bicycles, with a third expected to be purchased soon.

“Campus safety should be a priority. As parents we entrust that our most valuable asset—our children—is safeguarded while away from home,” says Jay Gelb. “It is so important to make sure that those protecting our loved ones have the best resources at their disposal.”

The motorized bicycles will help conserve officers’ energy during long shifts and can navigate terrain that may not have vehicle access. The new bikes will be used during various campus events, including concerts, graduation, move-in and athletics events, adding to the department’s fleet of bicycles. They will be vital for patrol and crowd management.

“This donation from the Gelb family will have a tremendous impact on our campus community,” says Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “It will allow us to revamp our bicycle fleet for our officers, cover more ground and expand upon our community engagement.”

Allen Groves, senior vice president and chief student experience officer, is grateful to the Gelb family for the funding that will bolster policing across campus in different ways.

“We appreciate this demonstration of support by the Gelb family for our broader campus safety initiatives, and their trust in Chief Stone and DPS leadership to put these funds to their best use,” says Groves. “The motorized bicycles we’ve purchased with this generous gift will enhance our goal of true community policing and will also allow campus safety officers to respond in new ways.”

Stone and Groves presented the Gelbs with a custom plaque to commemorate the family’s investment in helping to create the safest campus possible. In addition, DPS has added decals to each of the bicycles highlighting the generosity of the Gelb family. ��

“A donation of this magnitude shows me how invested our Syracuse families are in our shared goal of safety,” says Stone. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to enhance community safety. The Gelb family has allowed us to add important new tools in this effort.”

The Gelb family’s gift will aid DPS officers in the vital work they do every day for every campus community member. “Through this experience, I have found that DPS is staffed with professional and dedicated individuals. They do a great job, but I wanted to find out how we could assist them in doing even more,” says Gelb. “As parents and community members, it is important to ask how we can help, because our ultimate goal is that everyone at Syracuse University goes home safe every single day.”

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

On Oct. 26, 18 members of the campus community graduated from the first Department of Public Safety (DPS) community police academy. The academy is a free four-week program designed to give students, faculty and staff an idea of what it is like to protect and serve the campus community. During their time, participants learned from guest presenters, including representatives from DPS, Fire and Life Safety Services, Residential Safety Program and Syracuse University Ambulance. The presentations included tours, lectures and hands-on practical trainings.

The academy culminated in a graduation ceremony where the graduates were presented a certificate of completion from Craig Stone, DPS chief and associate vice president. “Being able to share how DPS operates with our campus community is a vital part of transparency,” says Stone. “I am thankful for this first group of graduates. The connection to the community we serve is something we will continue to strengthen.”

Graduates felt they forged a connection with DPS and gained a deeper understanding of how the department functions. Erika Schneider, assistant professor in the Newhouse School of Public Communications, believes she now better understands how DPS operates. “The community police academy was a very positive experience. I appreciated the transparency that the DPS officers used while discussing their operations and procedures,” she says. “It was great to be a student again and learn from so many knowledgeable members of DPS.”

Officer George Wazen, who spearheaded organizing the academy, believes this endeavor is something that will continue to strengthen the relationship between DPS and the campus community. “The academy was about why DPS operates the way it does. Our emphasis on transparency will hopefully instill understanding and confidence amongst our campus community as we work towards bridging any gaps,” says Wazen. Seeing the graduates learn in real time is what proved to be most rewarding to Wazen. “Watching the participants’ reaction to our lectures and hands-on activities is truly priceless,” he says.

The goal for Wazen and DPS is for the academy to continue to grow moving forward. Schneider believes that the academy is something more members of the campus community should take part in. “I would highly recommend the community police academy to any student, faculty, or staff member. I would love to continue this training myself if it were to get extended,” she says.

As DPS celebrates its first class graduating, the department is already hard at work preparing for the next iteration of the CPA, slated for the Spring 2023 semester. To learn more about the program, visit and follow DPS on social media (@syracusedps) for updates.