Following are examples of enhanced services that would be supported by members of SU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) having peace officer status:

Helping Emotionally Disturbed Persons
Nearly each week students, employees or passers-by call upon DPS to check on the behavior and welfare of individuals experiencing emotional stress. To date, a Public Safety officer may only attempt to verbally persuade such persons to seek help and may do nothing more, even if that person refuses. In contrast, peace officer status enables an officer to assist a person who is an imminent threat to him or herself or others to reach a physician for a medical assessment and seek the appropriate treatment deemed by the physician.

Responding to Emergencies More Effectively
Last year, DPS responded to 2,530 alarms, 225 “blue light” calls (including two armed robberies), 23 weapons calls, and 14 victims of 10 armed and strong-arm robberies.
To date, DPS cars have not been equipped with emergency equipment such as lights and sirens nor are drivers allowed to exceed the speed limit or pass traffic to respond to various emergencies. Given these limitations, other drivers are often unaware when a Public Safety officer is responding to a call. DPS also responds to vehicular accidents several times a week, often during the evening and in pouring rain or snow. Currently, a Public Safety officer is only allowed to use his/her vehicle’s flashers to keep other motorists from crashing into the scene.

In contrast, peace officer status provides for limited traffic flexibility and the authority to equip vehicles with lights and sirens, greatly increasing visibility and awareness of the officer’s presence, as well as preventing secondary accidents. (Although peace officer status allows for these additional authorities, speeding and other vehicular actions are regulated by state stipulations and cannot be done with blatant disregard for community safety.)

Enforcing Orders of Protection
SU’s daily population of more than 20,000 students, employees and visitors is a reflection of the wider society and is often larger during athletic and other special events. Members of the University community experience many of the same hardships and fear others off campus face. At least weekly, the many forms of domestic violence—threats, vandalism, stalking, harassment and physical abuse—invade the workplace and living quarters of college/university campuses. Although judges issue orders of protection when domestic violence victims are at risk, ordering an offender to stay away or cease contact with the victim, to date a Public Safety officer is only permitted to ask a suspect to leave or levy a minor charge of trespass if the offender refuses. In contrast, peace officer status enables a Public Safety officer to enforce the terms of an order of protection, thus better protecting the victim and sending a clear message to the suspect.

Improving Pedestrian Safety
In less than two years, SU has had more than a half dozen of its pedestrians struck by cars—a large number for a campus community. In most cases, evidence of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) was found or suspected. As a result of several student complaints made in Spring 2003 about the numerous DUIs on and around campus, DPS coordinated a couple of targeted Syracuse Police Department DUI enforcement activities. Unfortunately, DUI problems persist. Peace officer status enables DPS to immediately stop vehicles and address DUI suspects, rather than rely exclusively on Syracuse police officers who often, especially on busy days and nights, have to respond to multiple priority calls.

Addressing Suspicious Vehicle Problems
Community members are strongly encouraged to report suspicious persons and vehicles in an effort to thwart crimes such as robberies and assaults. In more recent years, alerts regarding personal crimes on and near campus have also been posted to further this crime prevention effort. Through action of the Syracuse Police Department, more specifically the activities of the Neighborhood Safety Patrol, and the collaborative observations and reports of DPS, most suspects have been found and arrested. Currently, Public Safety officers do not typically respond to calls of a suspicious vehicle; rather, the Syracuse Police Department is the initial responder. Peace officer status allows Public Safety officers to also respond to suspicious vehicles and further combat crime in the University community.

Accessing State and Federal Information for Crime Prevention, Investigations and Victim Assistance
To date, DPS has had access to state and federal information related to car tags and driver’s licenses. DPS is also fortunate to have one of the state’s counter-terrorism information computers, providing alerts on Code Orange and Red conditions. With peace officer status, Public Safety officers are able to access additional state and federal records such as information on stolen property, disastrous weather and road conditions, All Points Bulletins (APBs), missing persons, criminal records and outstanding warrants.

Improving Services and Programs for Community Safety and Quality
Even though SU holds professional memberships with its fellow institutions and campus law enforcement departments, the status of enhanced authorities granted in 1995 has consistently prevented DPS from applying for state and campus accreditation; several grants and other funding sources related to community-oriented policing, problem solving, training, equipment, traffic safety, emergency preparedness and homeland security; company-sponsored programs; and various training opportunities.

This disadvantage has been unique compared to our neighbor institutions—SUNY ESF, SUNY Upstate, Crouse Hospital, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Hutchings Psychiatric Center and the Syracuse Housing Authority—whose public safety staffs operate with police status. Likewise, a number of New York state private institutions (Canisius College, Cornell University, Fordham University and Ithaca College) and national universities (such as Boston University, Duke University, MIT, Northwestern University, Rutgers University, Vanderbilt University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania) also enjoy the benefits of peace officer or police officer status.

The implementation of peace officer status at Syracuse University brings our institution in step with other successful models locally and nationally, and allows greater collaboration amongst our organizations.