Community Review Board Issues Annual Report to University Community

The University’s Community Review Board (CRB), an independent and cross-functional campus group that reviews and provides input on certain matters involving the Department of Public Safety (DPS), released its annual report of findings and conclusions to the community this week.

The report, available on the CRB webpage [PDF], outlines its progress in three areas:

1. Review of appeals of dispositions of civilian complaints against DPS employees;
2. Review of DPS standard operating procedures (SOPs), trainings and key community-facing functions; and
3. CRB composition and overview.

“The board was heavily involved in reviewing standing operating procedures from DPS this year,” says Mary Kiernan, CRB chair. “Reviewing these policies brought out very insightful conversations amongst the board members and helped formulate thought-provoking recommendations to DPS.”

Some highlights of the CRB’s work during the 2023-24 academic year include:

• Reviewed and held a University forum to solicit input on proposed recommendations for SOPs, including:
  • Career development
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Training of non-sworn employees
• Reviewed and made recommendations regarding trauma and trauma-informed care training.
• Reviewed, researched and made policy recommendations regarding Body Worn Camera Policy after seeking community input during the open forum.

The CRB was created following an independent review of DPS by former Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in the spring of 2021 and consists of 11 members: three undergraduate students, one graduate student, one law student, two faculty members, two staff members and two administrators. To learn more or to connect with members of the CRB, visit its webpage or email CRB@syr.edu.