As part of SUNY’s ongoing commitment to safe campus environments, 44 University Police investigators, supervisors, and officers from 23 SUNY campuses and System Administration, including Fredonia University Police Officers Scott Martin and Matthew Austin, recently participated in an Investigators Roundtable training conference.
At the conference, investigators from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided training in “Sexual Assault Investigations through the Use of Social Media and the Internet;” the New York State Intelligence Center and the New York State Police reviewed trends in drug trafficking; and SUNY’s Office of the General Counsel updated participants on the federal Clery Act, Violence Against Women Act, and recent changes to Title IX.
“The safety of SUNY students, faculty, staff, and visitors depends greatly on the University Police presence and effectiveness on SUNY campuses across the state,” said University Police Commissioner Bruce McBride. “Following this conference, which is part of an ongoing in-service training program, our members are even better prepared to respond to and investigate incidents on SUNY campuses.”
SUNY’s University Police provides leadership and support for the police departments on SUNY campuses across New York State. Based at System Administration in Albany, the commissioner and deputy commissioner promote collaboration among campus departments and oversee university-wide efforts in training, operations, standards, employee relations, and campus safety. In 1998, the legal status of SUNY officers was changed to “police officer,” granting them the same training and law enforcement capabilities as municipal police. All University Police departments are full partners in various state, regional, and local crime information sharing and investigative task forces.
