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The Daily OrangePeace officers: Public Safety activates first wave of Peace officers
By Steven Kovach
Posted: 9/18/05, 10:46 PM EST Section: News
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As Syracuse University continues to grow in population and size, so too do the demands placed on the Department of Public Safety. As of last summer, a new brand of officers has been deployed on campus and the surrounding areas to better control criminal activity.
The Peace Officers, a division of Public Safety with authority one step below that of officers in the Syracuse Police Department, began active duty on July 1. The added authority of the Peace officers gives them the power to use emergency equipment like vehicles with sirens. They can also carry firearms and pull over traffic violators.
The program began last fall as the first group of Public Safety officers, and a few new recruits, began training with Syracuse Police to obtain Peace officer status.
Marlene Hall, the director of Public Safety, said there are currently 26 Peace officers on duty, with a total of about 50 expected to be active by next July, a number higher than expected.
"With all the new downtown properties, we needed additional personnel for buildings like the Warehouse and Center of Excellence," Hall said.
The Peace officer status has also allowed an increased jurisdiction for Public Safety, which includes the campus proper and any public roads adjacent to university property, Hall said. However, SPD has complete jurisdiction for the campus community, adding another layer to the relationship between the two departments.
"It's more effective," Hall said. "It helps to be able to work on calls together."
The increased jurisdiction also gives the officers the power to make arrests and stops on roadways. Whereas in the past Public Safety officers would have to call in suspicious vehicles to Syracuse Police, they now have the power to pull cars over and make the arrest unaided. This is also beneficial, Hall said, because now Peace officers can give chase if a suspect attempts to get away.
"We can go ahead and make arrests right now from the booking process," said Capt. Drew Buske of Public Safety. "We used to have to wait for SPD."
The program has also strengthened the relationship between Syracuse Police and the university. Hall said it was their department that originally suggested looking into moving up to Peace officer status.
"Chief (Gary) Miguel has been very supportive of this," Hall said.
In order to attain Peace officer status, officers had to undergo 300 hours of training with SPD, including special training with firearms. Although state law states Peace officers are not required to carry a firearm, Hall said Public Safety's firearms are a "by-product" of the program. Officers were trained with firearms according to country standards as opposed to state.
