After nearly three years, Syracuse University Public Safety has completed the transition from enhanced authority officers to peace officers. On Dec. 19, nine peace officers graduated the training program.

The group includes the final two full-time officers to go through conversion training from enhanced authority status, as well as seven new officers.

‘This gives them the right to act as the police on campus,’ said Public Safety Interim Chief Tony Callisto, who oversaw the conclusion of the transition. ‘It makes us a partner in the law enforcement community.’

After the transition, peace officers can carry out many actions that previously required them to call in the Syracuse Police Department, Callisto said. They can seize weapons, stolen property and controlled substances, make arrests based on probable cause, make traffic and suspicious vehicle stops, and conduct investigations.

The new status includes access to federal records and databases in order to assist investigations.

They are also now authorized to carry a weapon and use force to prevent violence, Callisto said. As enhanced authority officers, they could carry batons and pepper spray, but often needed to call the Syracuse Police if a weapon was involved. Now, the peace officers are armed, and can respond immediately.

Trish Salmon, a senior hospitality management major, said she is glad Public Safety officers can now carry firearms.

‘In the situations they encounter, sometimes they need firearms,’ she said. ‘I don’t think they’re here to hurt us, just to help us.’

Lindsay Speicher, a freshman sociology major, offered a different opinion.

‘I don’t think that DPS officers with guns are necessary,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t say the right thing about what they’re there for. It’s like saying that more violent things are going to happen.’

Cpl. Kim Isaac graduated the training program in June, and has completed the additional on the job training. In her five years at SU, she has spent time as both an enhanced authority officer and as a peace officer.

While there hasn’t been a big change in the way they carry out their duties, the additional responsibilities are helpful when needed, she said.

‘If you’re responding to an incident, and you have an unknown entry into a building, going in there as enhanced authority, you don’t really know what you’re getting into,’ she said. ‘You have your (baton) and your mace, if somebody happens to be in there. Now, you can be prepared for anything.’

While she hasn’t had to draw her firearm, it is a vital tool if she ever needs it, she said.

‘This gives me an edge,’ she said.

While at the beginning of the program, Public Safety planned to keep some officers at the enhanced authority status. All of their full-time officers now have peace officer status, and Public Safety will only hire officers who either already have the qualification, or will go through the training program.

In October 2003, Gov. George Pataki signed legislation which allowed SU to upgrade its officers to the peace officer status, and in February 2004, the SU Senate made a recommendation to begin the training program, which Chancellor Kenneth Shaw accepted.

Since then, five classes of Public Safety officers have graduated the training program, achieving the peace officer status. There are now 56 peace officers on staff. Public Safety has a total of 84 employees, including community service officers, some officers with security guard status and four dispatch officers.

Lt. Vernon Thompson, the administrator in charge of training, staff relations, and standards and investigations, as well as a retired Syracuse Police officer, developed the curriculum for conversion training.

‘I think it’s fantastic,’ he said. ‘This is one more addition to security to make Syracuse University safer overall.’

The 18-week training program covers three areas. First, the officers go through academic training, where they learn the laws and procedures they will need to know. Second is the practical training, which includes vehicle and firearm operation. Along with many other areas, the training includes a daily exercise regimen, which makes up the physical training, Thompson said.

Each training academy is held at the Syracuse sheriff’s office, where the Syracuse Police conduct the training.

After completing this training program, the officers spend 12 weeks in field training, where they are paired with experienced officers, and are evaluated daily.

‘The training program culminates in real-life scenarios, so we can see how they react,’ Thompson said.

Public Safety is currently interviewing for two vacancies since the academy started, advertising specifically for candidates who have already received the status, which will transfer to their new positions. When it hires another group of officers without the status, it will hold another academy and will complete training, Callisto said.

‘I’m just hoping that the students understand that our changing the status doesn’t change the officers.’ Isaac said. ‘We’re the same people, we’re not out to be super-cops. We’re out to protect our community the best way we can.’

Published on January 16, 2007 at 12:00 pm