New York State University Police

The New York State University Police was formed in response to growing unrest in the SUNY system during the mid-1960s. Demonstrations and protests against the Vietnam War, the growing drug use, questioning authority and various political movements and demonstrations contributed to the formation of today's State University Police. Several incidents during the 1990s emphasized the need for a full service police agency. These included a hostage-taking in a University at Albany lecture hall by a deranged gunman,[4] the "Bike Path Rapist" who killed a female student at the University at Buffalo and the suspicious circumstances regarding the disappearance of a University at Albany student while on campus. These and other incidents moved the Governor and Legislature to create the New York State University Police in 1999. Officers have the powers of arrest, issue uniform traffic tickets, and enforce New York State laws.

University Police Officers (UPO) receive their official powers through Education Law and Criminal Procedure law. These laws authorize University Police Officers to make warrantless arrests based on probable cause, to use appropriate force in making an arrest, to issue uniform appearance tickets and traffic summons and to execute arrest and bench warrants. For minor offenses, officers can use discretion to refer students to the college judicial board instead of pursuing an arrest. Officers have the option of referring arrested students to the college judiciary system.

University Police Communications and Security Specialist 1 provide communications, security, and public safety services within a 24/7 operation in the University Police Department at the campuses of the State University of New York. These positions will require working during various shifts. Their primary responsibility is to function as a desk officer, including communication activities such as dispatching and using various databases, online systems, and multiple video sources. University Police Communications and Security Specialist 1 are required to wear uniforms. Where appropriate, they also may perform patrol duties and assist University Police Officers.[5]

Security Services Assistant The primary duties of Security Services Assistants is building security however they may also be assigned posts to assist with traffic management, event management and other duties as assigned consistent with their job description. As they move about the campus the SSAs are the "eyes and ears" of the department and are responsible to relay any unusual activity they observe to dispatch.[6]

On July 22, 1998, the SUNY Police bill was signed by Governor George Pataki. This bill provided for the creation of the New York State University Police. One clause requires each campus president to enter into a "mutual aid" agreement with adjoining police agencies.

New trainees are trained at regional academies located in the area in which they are stationed. For each campus, the number of officers varies as a function of geographic size as well as the population.[7]

Training for new officers meets or exceeds the "New York State Department of Criminal Justice Standards for Police Officers". The "Police Officer Basic Course" covers the traditional, fundamental law-enforcement realms, including:

After completion of this course-based training, each new officer completes a minimum twelve-week on-the-job training supervised by a Field Training Officer from their respective campus. Further training can be added. For example, the emergence of more-recent modern threats such as active shooters has resulted in a college-by-college approach for response protocols, along with additional training, preparatory measures, and coordination with local law-enforcement agencies.[7]

Depending on location and training, officers can be selected for specialized units that allow the agency to better serve the community. Some of these units include:

• Police Bike Patrol Unit
• Firearms Training Unit
• Crime Prevention/Education Unit
• K-9 Unit (Tracking, Narcotics and/or Explosive Detection)[8][9]
• Crime Scene Unit
• Civil Disturbance Response Unit
• Honor Guard
• Rape Aggression Defense Class Instructor Unit
• Mounted Unit[10][11]
• Division of Protective Operations (Chancellor Protection / Visiting Dignitary Protection)

The force includes a Criminal Investigations Unit, a "plainclothes" unit responsible for both criminal and non-criminal investigations. Criminal Investigators train in investigative topics, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, crimes, and evidence collection and preservation.

In 2010, the New York State University Police at Stony Brook University became the second in the New York State University Police system to become an accredited law enforcement agency by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice services. The accreditation shows that the department exceeds the standards required to be a law enforcement agency in the state of New York. Fewer than half of the law enforcement agencies in New York meet accreditation requirements.

NYSUP union President James McCartney testified in 2007 before the state Senate Higher Education Committee and, again in 2008, to the SUNY Board of Trustees. His testimony discussed what he claimed to be a dysfunctional, decentralized command system and ongoing staffing, equipment, and training deficiencies. McCartney also expressed concern about the "top-heavy" UPD Chief staff, noting its sixty-five management positions, compared to a combined total of twenty-four across other state law enforcement agencies.

In December 2015, New York State passed a bill enabling University Police Officers (UPO) to retire after 25 years. Prior to 2015, the New York State University Police was the only state law enforcement agency requiring employees to work to age 63 to earn pension eligibility. This had led to instability and a "train and transfer" cycle, where young officers would quickly leave to join law enforcement agencies with more attractive pension plans.[13]

• Campus police
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• New York State Police
• City University of New York Public Safety Department
• Cayuga Community College Office of Public Safety

• New York State University Police – University at Albany
• New York State University Police – Alfred State College
• New York State University Police – Binghamton University
• New York State University Police – SUNY Brockport
• New York State University Police – University at Buffalo
• New York State University Police – Buffalo State College
• New York State University Police – SUNY Canton
• New York State University Police – SUNY Cobleskill
• New York State University Police – SUNY Cortland
• New York State University Police – SUNY Delhi
• New York State University Police – SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• New York State University Police – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• New York State University Police – Farmingdale State College
• New York State University Police – SUNY Fredonia
• New York State University Police – SUNY Geneseo
• New York State University Police – SUNY Maritime College
• New York State University Police – Morrisville State College
• New York State University Police – SUNY New Paltz
• New York State University Police – SUNY Old Westbury
• New York State University Police – SUNY Oneonta
• New York State University Police – SUNY College of Optometry
• New York State University Police – SUNY Oswego
• New York State University Police – SUNY Plattsburgh
• New York State University Police - Plaza Police
• New York State University Police – SUNY Potsdam
• New York State University Police – SUNY Purchase
• New York State University Police – Stony Brook University
• New York State University Police – SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• New York State University Police – SUNY Upstate Medical University