According to the FBI, the scammers:

• Contact the victim by phone, claiming that their personal information is linked to a financial fraud investigation;
• Transfer the phone call to what they claim to be the “Chinese police department”;
• Pose as a Chinese police officer and inform the victim that they are under investigation and must return to China or face arrest and/or a trial;
• Direct the victim to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring;
• Instruct the victim to avoid discussing details of the case, refrain from conducting internet searches on the case, and report all of their daily activities; and
• Direct victims to wire a large sum of money to a Chinese bank account to either prove their innocence or to post bail to avoid having to return to China.

To protect yourself, please take the following steps: 

• If an unknown individual contacts you and accuses you of a crime, immediately call the FBI or DPS. Do NOT release any personal or financial information and do not send any money.
• If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from a government agency, take down the name, title and contact information of the caller or email. Take steps to verify the contact by using public sources (internet) to locate the official government agency and then contact the agency yourself to confirm whether the outreach is legitimate.

 If you have received one of these phone calls, the best thing you can do is immediately contact the ���ǰ���.��

The Department of Public Safety accepts their Advanced Accreditation during the Fall 2024 CALEA Conference. Pictured from left: CALEA Commissioner Marlon Lynch, DPS Director of Administration Donna Adams, Associate VP and Chief of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Craig A. Stone, DPS Accreditation Manager and Detective Chris Wood and CALEA Executive Director W. Craig Hartley, Jr. (Photo courtesy of CALEA)

The number one priority of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is keeping the campus community safe. This is accomplished through adhearing to public safety standards set forth by the and the . DPS obtained both the IACLEA accreditation in 2015 and CALEA accreditation in 2020 and is pleased to announce being granted advanced accreditation by CALEA.

In April 2022, Craig A. Stone, associate vice president and chief of campus safety and emergency management services, directed DPS staff to work together to seek advanced accreditation knowing that this would not only enhance the delivery of public safety services but also build trust within the campus community. Advanced accreditation surpasses standard accreditation by requiring the DPS to meet an even more comprehensive set of rigorous standards. This level of accreditation is a testament to DPS’s dedication to adopting and following best recognized practices, maintaining high levels of professionalism, and ensuring that its operations are aligned with the most up-to-date and effective law enforcement methodologies.

“We appreciate the annual external file reviews, and the independent on-site assessment conducted by CALEA to verify our compliance with advanced accreditation,” says Chief Stone. “Obtaining advanced accreditation is a voluntary process, which we welcomed as an opportunity to demonstrate the highest level of public safety service in our commitment to keeping the campus community safe.”

During its assessment, DPS demonstrated compliance with CALEA’s advanced standards, addressing the requirements with minimal issues. Throughout the process, the department consistently met the stringent criteria set by CALEA, showcasing its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of professionalism, accountability and operational excellence.

“Obtaining advanced law enforcement accreditation from CALEA demonstrates the commitment the ���ϲ����� Department of Public Safety has for enhancing its operational efficiency, accountability and professionalism,” says Detective Christopher Wood, accreditation manager. “This accreditation provides opportunities for ongoing training and development, improving overall performance and helping to maintain a safe and secure campus environment.”

Through advanced accreditation, DPS has improved its operational capabilities that are designed to address the challenges of campus safety. This includes more innovative training programs for officers, better relationships with our law enforcement partners and the establishment of more robust risk management and crime analysis. These improvements enable the department to respond more effectively to emergencies, manage risks effectively and provide a greater level of security for the campus community.

DPS achieving advanced accreditation with CALEA represents a significant milestone in our commitment to excellence and highlights the department’s critical role as a partner in maintaining a safe and supportive campus, contributing to ���ϲ�����’s broader mission of ensuring a safe and secure living, learning and working environment in partnership with those it serves.

On Friday, Nov. 15 from 11  a.m. to 2 p.m., officers from DPS and SPD will be at the Hookway Athletic Field lot, 1799 E. Colvin St., to distribute steering wheel locks to both ���ϲ����� community members and ���ϲ����� residents. The steering wheel locks are free of charge.

“This event reflects our commitment to taking proactive measures in crime prevention and community engagement. Through this initiative, we hope to arm vehicle owners with an additional layer of protection to reduce the likelihood of theft,” says DPS Commander James McLellan.

“These steering wheel locks serve as a visible and effective deterrent to potential car thieves. The ���ϲ����� Police Department is dedicated to working with state and local partners like DPS to promote awareness about vehicle security,” says SPD Sergeant Tom Blake.

From left to right: Detective Mike Toia, Officer Teng Kiir, John “Bol” Ajak and Officer John Mazurowski

Kiir came to the United States at a very young age. While pregnant, Kiir’s mother and father chose to take a leap of faith and leave everything they love in Sudan. Kiir’s family made the journey to Cairo, Egypt. The next step for his parents was to leave Africa as a whole and move to the U.S. In 2005, Kiir and his family found themselves in Chicago, Illinois. With his parents not knowing any English and now with a very young child, they navigated through their new country, eventually settling in ���ϲ�����, New York.

Ajak had a similar start to his journey, leaving Sudan as well. Ajak left at the start of the war when his mother took him and his older siblings to a refugee camp in Kenya. During this time, he started his education journey, which eventually helped land him an opportunity to come to the U.S. It was here that Ajak started playing basketball, eventually being recruited by the University. While at ���ϲ�����, Ajak realized that it was a lot more like home than he could have imagined. He saw many families living in the City of ���ϲ����� facing similar struggles to those at the refugee camp he was once in and decided that he wanted to do something to give back.

Teaming up with friends and family, Ajak created , which provides scholarships to kids in Sudan, helping them come to the U.S. to pursue their education.

“I want to help kids through school. Me being at ���ϲ�����, was for school. No one brought me here. I didn’t get drafted; I came to the United States because of school. If it’s possible for me, it is possible for the thousands of kids back home,” says Ajak.

“John’s charity is super impactful because it doesn’t just help our people back home in Sudan, but it also gives a sense of direction and hope for migrants from Sudan who are new to the U.S. and helps them navigate through these new windows of opportunities that have now opened for them,” says Kiir. “Many Sudanese families that are new to the U.S. end up in horrible living conditions because they come here with no guidance and are left blinded in what seems to be a whole new world to them; a charity like John’s can help counteract that.”

Ajak is hopeful that his charity will help keep kids coming to the U.S. off the streets and in school. He also believes having a familiar face like Kiir working as an officer for DPS will help bridge the gap.

“The next Sudanese kids that are coming here, will look up to him and hopefully abide by the law because it’s one of them telling them,” says Ajak. “In my mind, no one else can relate to them better than Teng can. This is a huge step for DPS, because this helps the community.”

Kiir graduated from the Department of Public Safety’s Peace Officer Academy in August. His reasoning for joining the force? He wants to be able to have the opportunity to connect with students on a level that most officers might not be able to, and not just connect, but understand them as well. Kiir says that in return, the students can also learn to understand the role of DPS and feel comfortable connecting with DPS officers.

This committee, which originated in fall 2018 with the idea of bringing students, DPS members and other campus community members together to focus on integrating public safety with quality-of-life matters, will provide feedback on safety and DPS intervention, among other topics.

Students selected as part of the committee will work with DPS and other staff members to develop solutions to further ensure the well-being of students on and off campus. The committee will be co-chaired for the third consecutive year by DPS Associate Vice President and Chief Craig Stone and Karess Gillespie, assistant director, Student Living.

“I’m proud of the dialogue our committee had throughout last year. We strive to have meaningful conversation that fosters a safe and welcoming campus community. I look forward to continuing that mission with some new students joining our committee for this academic year,” says Chief Stone.

Students, faculty and staff can nominate a student or students can also apply themselves. Nominations/applications should be sent to nomination@syr.edu with a statement detailing the student’s interest in the committee and why the student would be a valuable member of the group. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 4; the committee’s membership will be announced the following week.

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 ���ϲ����� 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 ���ϲ����� 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 ���ϲ�����, 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 goal of the Fire Safety Academy is to provide the RAs fire safety related information and responsibilities through a hands-on and interactive educational setting. They are then able to convey the fire safety information to their fellow students at their respective floor meetings,” says John Rossiter, manager of FLSS.

A resident advisor uses a fire extinguisher during Fire Safety Academy.

The stations consisted of learning about the history of FLSS and the actions it takes to prevent fires, walking through a smoke-filled hallway, using a fire extinguisher and best practices in the event of a fire.

The group ended the academy with a showcase of two mock residence hall rooms that had a fire break out. One of the rooms showed how the sprinkler system activates and gets control of the fire. The other room showed what happened in a room without a sprinkler system. At ���ϲ�����, every residence hall has a sprinkler system.

“Student Living, Fire and Life Safety and ���ϲ����� Fire Department have been holding this training for a number of years. While I hope that our community never experiences a fire of any size, it is a reality we need to be prepared for, and education is the best measure to protect our communities,” says Mel Molsberry, assistant director of Student Living. “This collaboration allows our team to experience simulated aspects of a fire-related emergency and practice fire safety in a controlled and safe environment, which is a rare opportunity. Ultimately, this awareness serves our team members beyond their time at ���ϲ�����, and I feel it’s so important to recognize that.”

FLSS, with the help of ���ϲ����� Fire, conducts a mock dormitory fire.

In addition to Student Living, Fire and Life Safety Services and the ���ϲ����� Fire Department, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, ���ϲ����� Facilities Services, ABJ Sprinkler and Parking and Transportation Services also assisted during the day.

“I challenge these new campus public safety officers to go out into the community every day and build trust with the people they serve. Congratulations graduates,” said Craig Stone, associate vice president and chief of the Department of Public Safety, during the graduation ceremony.

The graduates joining the ���ϲ����� DPS are:

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

2024 campus peace officer recruits with instructors and Deputy Chief Sardino and Chief Craig Stone. (Front row, left to right: Officer Dishaw, Sgt. Wheeler, Kit Diana, Teng Kiir, Delana Thomas and Liam Welling; back row, left to right: Officer Patsos, Thomas Bingham, Keyatta Green, Sean McCaffery, Barrington Wallace, Deputy Chief John Sardino and Associate Vice President and Chief Craig Stone)

“Today marks not just the end of a rigorous journey, but the beginning of a new chapter in each of the graduates’ lives. Over the last few months, they have acquired values and skills that will help them through every challenge,” said Sgt. Adam Wheeler, academy director. “I am proud of them and look forward to seeing them finish the program and be important assets to our team here at DPS.”

During the ceremony, in addition to the badge pinning and certificates being distributed, special honors were given to a couple of graduates. Liam Welling and Keyatta Green received performance-based awards, while Welling was also 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 completing the training program.

The University’s Department of Public Safety provides around-the-clock protection to the ���ϲ����� 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.