SUNY Potsdam's Department of University Police is continually striving to improve its ability to keep the campus safe and secure. Officers and employees attend yearly certification and specialty training. We also are engaged in a New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation project. However, we rely upon input and feedback from our students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors to the campus, to let us know how we are doing.
Compliments: We look forward to hearing about instances in which our officers or staff members have provided exemplary service or assistance.
Suggestions: We also encourage anyone to make suggestions or recommendations about programming, policing strategies or other areas affecting our department and the safety of the campus.
Complaints: A formal policy and practice is in place to address and investigate allegations of unprofessional, unethical or illegal conduct of officers or staff members.
Important note: No matter what kind of report you submit, please be as specific as possible. Submit the name and/or badge number of any University Police officers or members of the department, if you can. If you do not have this information, a description of the officer may suffice. If your report pertains to a particular incident, please include the date, time and location, as well as the names and contact information for any potential witnesses if possible.
Other ways to submit
Report forms for compliments, suggestions and complaints are all available online, and also at the University Police offices, located at Van Housen Hall Extension.
Compliments, suggestions and complaints may be received by all members of University Police, either in person, over the telephone, in writing, and may be lodged anonymously or by any other means.
In addition to the formal compliments, suggestions and complaint process, community members may request to speak with a University Police supervisor any time they observe department activity that raises concern. Supervisors will respond upon request, which can be asked of any patrol officer. You can also call University Police at (315) 267-2222.
Complaint investigation
Any member of this department receiving a complaint regarding an employee will immediately notify an on-duty supervisor, and advise the complainant of the submission procedures.
All complaints shall be handled as privately as possible. The documented complaint will be forwarded directly to the Chief of Police for investigation and action.
The responsibility for the investigation of all complaints against an employee lies with the Chief of Police. All complaints containing sufficient factual information will be investigated.
Notification of disposition
The complainant will be advised that a complaint has been received and if it is being investigated. Upon the adjudication of a citizen-generated complaint, the complainant will be notified as to the results of the investigation conducted. Unless an exigent circumstance exits, the only information that will be released by the Chief of Police with regard to the outcome of an internal investigation is whether administrative action has been taken or not been taken in the matter.
Note: Investigations of departmental personnel will be conducted in accordance with New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, and the collective bargaining agreements established between the employee bargaining units and the State of New York.
External review
Anyone can request an external investigation, by contacting the following outside organizations and agencies:
- Potsdam Village Police Department: (315) 265-2121
- St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department: www.co.st-lawrence.ny.us, (315) 379-2222
- New York State Police: www.troopers.ny.gov, (315) 379-0012
- New York Attorney General's Office: www.ag.ny.gov/complaint-forms, (800) 788-9898
- U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights: www2.ed.gov/ocr, (800) 421-3481
- U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: www.justice.gov/crt, (888) 736-5551
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: www.tips.fbi.gov, (518) 465-7551