•Crime Prevention
•Bike Patrol
•Communications
•Department Overview
•Criminal Investigations
The mission of the Crime Prevention Unit is to inform and educate members
of the University Community concerning protecting themselves and their property from criminal activity. There are currently three officers in
the unit. In addition to basic police school, crime prevention officers
receive two weeks of intensive training in crime prevention related topics,
and are certified by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice
Services.
The Crime Prevention Unit provides the University Community with information
and services in an effort to reduce their risk of becoming a crime victim.
Officers provide information through live presentations to students and
employees. Security surveys constantly assess the safety and security provided
by the physical plant of the University. Brochures and posters provide
constant reminders of the need to keep safe and secure. University crime prevention officers
work closely with municipal police agencies in providing services to students
who live off campus.
The photo shows a University crime prevention officer with an educational display.
Unit members are active in local crime prevention organizations
and members of the New York State and National Crime Prevention Organizations.
For more information about University Crime Prevention, contact Lieutenant
Marv Miller.
In August of 1992 the University at Albany Department of Public Safety initiated the Police Bicycle Unit. This unit was founded by now Assistant Chief Tom Kilcullen. At the time, the Unit consisted of six officers sharing four bikes. Since then it has grown to thirteen officers and ten bikes. The bike patrol officers ride Raleigh MT 500 Police Edition Bikes. These bicycles are equipped with Nightsun headlights, Performance computers, and Rock Shox Quadra 5 suspension forks. Two patrolmen, Scott Neff and William Yankowski,
have received specialized training to become Bike Maintenance Officers. They spend many hours keeping all bikes in shape for the demands of campus patrol and emergency response.
The officers wear Olympic brand biking uniforms. Bike patrolman Scott Neff is pictured here wearing the summer bicycle uniform. The bike patrol is not only for warm summer days. The unit members are each issued foul weather and winter biking clothing. This Ultrex gear is yellow and black in color, earning the Police Bicycle Unit the nickname "the Bumblebees."
Use of the bikes has allowed much greater access to the academic and residential areas of the campus. A large portion of these areas are not accessible by car, and are too large to cover efficiently by foot. The bikes also allow greater interaction with the campus community by removing the barriers of the patrol car and the traditional uniform. The Police Bicycle Unit has been well received by both the public and the administration.
Police Bicycle Trivia: Who started the first police bicycle patrol in the United States?
Blue Light automatic dial telephones, and the 911 emergency system assist the University community in
accessing police, fire and medical help quickly and efficiently. Through computer enhancement, the
dispatcher determines a caller's location even if nothing is said on the line. A patrol officer is
immediately dispatched to the scene, to evaluate if further assistance is needed. All phone calls to the University Police are recorded in order to assist in follow-up investigations of incidents. Careful records
are kept by the communications officer of all radio transmissions and phone conversations.
One patrol officer on every shift used to be assigned to the Communications Desk.
Currently, a federal crime prevention grant enables the University Police Department to employ professional
full-time communications officers. Not only does this move professionalize the Communications Unit,
but it also frees up a patrol officer for work in the University community. The communications officer is responsible
for answering the telephones, the 911 phones, and maintaining control over the Department's two-way
radio traffic. CDERN, or the Capital District Emergency Radio Network keeps the University at Albany in
instant radio contact with every other Police Department in the Capital District. A New York State
Police Information Network (NYSPIN) computer terminal keeps officers at the University updated on a
wide variety of current law enforcement activity that may affect their own operations. Communications Officers attend
a two week intensive training course, in-service training at the University at Albany, and additional training seminars.
Communications officers wear a distinctive dark blue uniform, and are the first link in providing essential public safety services to
the University at Albany community. Michelle Clark, Dan Gomez and Scott Dilcher currently serve as
police dispatchers.
