
University actively addressing vehicle vandalism and thefts
The plan includes significant increases to the surveillance of surface lots and garages.

MERT evaluation looks at ways to grow, strengthen operations
The Medical Emergency Response Team, a River Campus student organization in place since 1972, has paused its responses to calls while it undergoes evaluation.

Public Safety Chief Mark Fischer to retire at the end of July
Fischer has led the University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the past seven years. Deputy Chief Gerald Pickering will become interim chief effective August 1.

Department of Public Safety earns distinctive accreditation
The full accreditation by the international organization of campus safety administrators required meeting more than 200 separate standards and is achieved by fewer than 100 campus safety departments at universities worldwide.

Accreditation Assessment Team invites public comment on DPS
The University of Rochester community is invited to share comments about the Department of Public Safety as part of a site visit by an accreditation team.

DPS installs new cruise lights for greater community presence
The University’s Department of Public Safety is joining a nationwide community policing effort by installing “cruise lights” on their fleet of vehicles, adding to officers’ visibility as they provide service to the University community.

‘Iron Chef’ officers
With the secret ingredient of brussel sprouts and judges from the Students’ Association and Wilson Commons staff, officers in the Department of Public Safety teamed up with chefs from University Dining Services for the first “Cooking with DPS Iron Chef” competition.

Meet the new LGBTQ+ liaison and community resource officer at DPS
The Department of Public Safety recently appointed Laura Johnson as the department’s first LGBTQ+ liaison, and Erin Vess as the new community resource officer.

Department of Public Safety graduates new class of peace officers
A new class of 25 sworn peace officers includes individuals proficient in Spanish, French, Tamil, Sinhala, and American Sign Language, with a range of professional backgrounds—military, health care, higher education, and the private sector.

An officer and an organ donor
Lieutenant Dan Schermerhorn Jr. works the day shift. Peace Officer Paul Wlosinski works nights. The two Department of Public Safety colleagues are forever connected by an act of generosity that gave Schermerhorn a second chance.