The SUNY Chiefs Association recognized three University Police officers for excellence last month.
UPD Lieutenant Scott Marciszewski, Officer John Sindoni and Communications Officer Robert Adamski all received awards for professionalism on campus.
The SUNY Chiefs Association Awards are held annually in Albany, New York to recognize the work university police departments within the SUNY system. The event presents officers with awards for heroism and professionalism.
“For our job, we make sure to provide a safe environment for everyone,” said Lieutenant Gregg Gamble. “We make sure to keep in communication with everyone on campus as feedback.”
There are currently 40 sworn-in officers employed at UB and at least five officers and one lieutenant must be working at all times when school is in session.
“I always see a lot of officers around campus, so generally I feel safe,” said Riley Walsh, a junior computer science major.
Marciszewski received his award for his work as UPD’s accreditation manager, helping UPD become the only police department in New York State to be accredited through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Sindoni was the first officer to administer Narcan on a SUNY campus last April. Narcan is used as an opioid antagonist that counteracts the effects of opiates, such as heroin. UPD receives official training to learn how to administer the drug, which saved the life of the individual.
Adamski’s quick work helped save the life of a UB student overdosing on heroin in February. After the student’s father called UPD concerned about his son’s safety, Adamski quickly notified security at the Collegiate Village apartment complex where the student lived. The student was administered Narcan and survived.
“Our training is very important,” Gamble said. “In all situations, whether it’s an emergency or a dispute, we rely on our training to diffuse any potentially dangerous situations.”
The rigorous training that all UPD officers receive keeps them prepared both mentally and physically to deal with the things that happen on college campuses.
“We train every year and go through drills for things such as an active shooter on campus,” Gamble said.
Mary Connors, a junior health and human services major, said that although she’s normally a paranoid person, she feels safe on campus.
“I really appreciate all that the university police [do] to keep the campus safe,” Connors said.
UPD is also trying to make UB a more inclusive university. UPD reached out to students and staff and held a panel to not only discuss police brutality and give feedback to UPD officers.
A new student panel works with UPD to provide feedback to the officers from themselves and the student body.
“In cases of protests and things like that, we make sure to keep everyone safe, but we also make sure to respect the opinions and feeling of the people involved,” Gamble said.
Connors said she had a friend who was present on campus when it was believed a gunman was spotted in Lockwood Library in 2010. She said her friend told her the campus was “swarming with officers that day.” Connors said this makes her feel like UPD takes their job seriously.
“I know that the university police is equipped to deal with any issues that could happen,” Walsh said.
Thanya Theogene is a news staff writer. News desk can be reached at news@ubspectrum.com.
