Donations

Willow’s emergency shelters are the center of their supportive services to families impacted by domestic violence. From the multiple bedrooms to playrooms, each area of Willow’s shelters plays such an important role to the families they serve.

You can help these families feel at home by donating and replenishing much-needed supplies.

Review the official Willow Domestic Violence Center wish list, which outlines items that are in high need.

Donations will be received at the below locations until October 31. Questions? Please contact DPS Community Resource Officer Kamaran Moss.

Donation drop-off locations

• Public Safety Headquarters
  612 Wilson Blvd. Rochester, NY 14627 – (Main Entrance)
• Public Safety Crime Prevention Office
  601 Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY 14642 – (Medical Center, G-6009)
• Strong Memorial Hospital
  601 Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY 14642 – (Main Lobby)
• Strong West
  156 West Ave. Brockport, NY 14420 – (Emergency Department Entrance)
• Women’s Health
  125 Lattimore Rd. Rochester. NY 14620 – (Main Entrance)
• Surgery Center
  180 Sawgrass Dr. Rochester, NY 14620 – (Main Entrance)
• Alumni and Advancement Center
  300 E. River Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 – (Staff Entrance)
• Laboratory for Laser Energetics
  200 E. River Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 – (COI Entrance)
• Memorial Art Gallery
  500 University Ave. Rochester, NY 14607 – (Staff Entrance)
• Miller Center
  25 Gibbs St. Rochester, NY 14607 – (George Walker Center, MC3A)

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Harrell brings more than 25 years of public safety and leadership experience to the role. His career reflects extensive experience in field operations, training and instruction, and collaborative partnerships.

As deputy chief, Harrell will support the operational and strategic direction of the department, reporting to AVP of Public Safety and Chief Public Safety Officer Quchee Collins and working with the DPS leadership team to advance priorities around professionalism, preparedness and community partnership. His appointment strengthens ongoing efforts to enhance campus safety services and foster a culture of excellence, accountability and trust.

Leadership and educational experience

Harrell most recently served with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Naples, Florida, where he worked in youth relations and patrol.

He began his career in 1997 with the Department of Defense as a police officer in Maryland. He later joined the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where he held leadership roles in training and operations. In 2017, he became a full-time instructor at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy.

Harrell earned his degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, providing him with valuable knowledge in organizational management and public service.

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IACLEA accreditation involves a five-step process that evaluates campus public safety agencies against internationally recognized best practices. To earn reaccreditation, DPS went through a comprehensive review of policies, procedures, and operations, ensuring they met all 227 IACLEA standards. Independent assessors also conducted an on-site evaluation and reviewed feedback from the University of Rochester community.

This reaccreditation demonstrates DPS’s ongoing efforts to foster a safe and welcoming environment for learning, research, healthcare, and campus life throughout the University and Medical Center. It reflects the department’s commitment to continuous improvement and its alignment with the University’s values of integrity, respect, and accountability.

“This reaccreditation represents a significant milestone in ensuring DPS keeps pace with our community’s evolving safety needs,” said Associate Vice President and Chief Public Safety Officer Quchee Collins. “I am proud of and grateful for the hard work of all DPS members who protect and support our students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors through transparency, collaboration, and professionalism.”

DPS first earned IACLEA accreditation in 2020. Accreditation is awarded for a four-year period, during which time the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with IACLEA standards. The agency will seek reaccreditation again in 2029.

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“This accreditation process reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of service to our university community through transparent, professional practices,” said Associate Vice President and Chief Quchee Collins.

Members of the University of Rochester community, employees from local law enforcement agencies, and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team by calling (585) 275-0034 on Monday, April 14, 2025, between 1 and 3 p.m. Telephone comments should address the department’s operations as they relate to IACLEA’s professional standards.

For more information about IACLEA accreditation, please visit their website at iaclea.org. Anyone wishing to submit written comments may send them to: IACLEA Accreditation, 520 S Walnut St. Box 2388- Bloomington, IN 47402-2388.

The Accreditation Assessment Team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals who over the course of a few days will review written materials for proof of the 227 IACLEA standards that must be met. The assessors are Regina Davis, Accreditation Manager (retired) Georgia State University Police Department and team leader Wendy Dorival, Accreditation Manager, University of Central Police Department. Once the assessors complete their review, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the department should receive reaccreditation.

Accreditation is for four years, during which time the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with IACLEA standards. This reaccreditation process represents an important opportunity to evaluate our practices and ensure DPS continues to meet the evolving safety needs of our campus community.

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Recommendations for vehicle owners

If you own a Hyundai or Kia, please strongly consider using a steering wheel lock every time you park. The Department of Public Safety’s Office of Community Engagement will distribute free steering wheel locks at Lot 1-Crittenden on Thursday, April 3, from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Or, stop by DPS headquarters at 612 Wilson Blvd. on River Campus. All you need to do is show a University ID.

It is also recommended that all vehicle owners, regardless of make and model, follow good safety habits to help prevent auto theft and break-ins.

• Close all windows and lock all doors. Activate your vehicle alarm system.
• Park in high-traffic or well-lighted areas when possible.
• Remove all valuables from the vehicle. It’s not enough to keep them out of sight; don’t keep anything valuable in your parked car.

What DPS and Transportation and Logistics is doing to help protect your vehicle

The Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation and Logistics are coordinated in actively addressing this issue through a number of different measures, including preventive foot and vehicle patrols and more parking staff in the lots and garages for monitoring.

In October, DPS launched Operation Park Safe, a multi-faceted strategy to enhance vehicle safety across University of Rochester campuses. The initiative combines data-driven planning, patrols during peak crime hours, additional camera systems, and increased patrol visibility in identified areas to proactively deter criminal activity and prevent incidents like vehicle break-ins and car thefts from taking place. DPS officers are also available to provide transports upon request, ensuring that students and employees feel secure when commuting across campus; members of the University community can request a ride by calling (585) 275-3333 or picking up a Blue Light phone.

Additionally, students can request a Safe Ride for late-night transportation between University properties and residence halls using the TripShot app. The service is available nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is free with a University ID.

Please remain aware of your surroundings and report any concerns immediately by calling or texting DPS at (585) 275-3333.

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Donation locations:

• Department of Public Safety Headquarters (612 Wilson Blvd.)
• Eastman Institute for Oral Health
• Strong Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, Communications Desk
• Strong Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (Main Lobby and First Floor Social Work Office)
• Memorial Art Gallery
• Strong West Emergency Department Entrance

Questions?
Please contact peace officer Cheyenne Hovey at cheyenne.hovey@dps.rochester.edu.

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“As I share this 200-day update on our department’s progress and future initiatives, the safety of our students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors remains our priority,” says Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief Public Safety Officer Quchee Collins, who joined the University in July 2024. “We are sharing these plans proactively because I believe in keeping our University well informed as we begin to implement important changes.”

The Department of Public Safety operates as a hybrid department that employs two distinct public safety officer job types: New York State-certified sworn peace officers who are authorized to carry firearms and make arrests, and non-sworn officers who perform essential campus functions like building security services, patrols (via small electric GEMS, bikes, and foot), student safety escorts, and special event security.

Only sworn peace officers will be equipped with the new body-worn cameras and ECDs, following comprehensive officer training and certification. Aside from DPS supervisors, these officers are all based at the Medical Center.

Body-worn cameras, which were recommended in an independent safety assessment last year, will enhance transparency and accountability in all interactions between officers and community members, providing objective documentation that protects everyone involved. The University is finalizing comprehensive policies for camera activation, footage storage, and data privacy that align with state and federal laws, including HIPAA.

In addition, DPS and University leaders have approved plans to implement ECDs, which are now standard equipment at many university public safety departments. Before deployment, sworn officers will complete extensive training and certification in proper ECD use. Implementation of both technologies will take place over the next several months.

Collins has presented an overview of the changes, including new technology, to the University’s Public Safety Advisory Committee and stakeholder groups across the University in the past few months. He will continue these discussions in the coming weeks to share implementation details.

Since Collins’ arrival in July, DPS has launched several safety and community initiatives, including staffing a new Office of Community Engagement, expanded bike patrols, and the Operation Park Safe program.

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“Creating confidence in DPS starts with active listening, empathy, and authenticity. We want everyone to know our department is service-oriented and here to help,” says Shuman.
DPS is a 24-hour/seven days-a-week operation that protects and supports University students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. It has been accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators since 2020, making it one of only 72 institutions of higher education that currently holds this designation.

With the arrival of Quchee Collins, inaugural associate vice president of Public Safety and chief Public Safety Officer, DPS has reaffirmed its commitment to community engagement and people-first approach to keeping all of Rochester’s campuses as safe as possible.

In addition to Shuman, the DPS community engagement team consists of Captain Joe Reed and Lieutenant Tom Andreano. The trio recently hosted a series of pop-up events in Wilson Commons sharing important information on vehicle safety and offering electronic device registration.

Building relationships of mutual trust and respect is a cornerstone to addressing unique needs, concerns, and issues across the University of Rochester community. As DPS continues to evolve, the community engagement team will remain dedicated to keeping the University community informed with a collaborative and transparent approach to campus safety. Recent initiatives include:

• An expanded bike patrol, now with 17 officers trained through the International Police Mountain Bike Association.
• Updates to the DPS website that include messages from the chief, an easy to access daily crime log, and improved feedback page.
• Enhanced resources for vehicle safety, including Operation Park Safe.

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The Daily Crime Log, which is searchable, includes the:

• offense title
• date of offense
• time of offense
• a brief description of the crime
  general location of the crime

The log is designed to provide crime information on a timelier basis than annual statistical disclosures. A crime must be entered into the log within two business days of when it was reported. At times, certain information may be withheld if it is determined that such a release would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or the safety of an individual. Any portion of the log that is older than 60 days can be made available upon request.

For questions regarding the Daily Crime Log, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 585-275-3437 or publicsafety@rochester.edu.

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The department is actively monitoring crime data to assess the effectiveness of Operation Park Safe.

For questions regarding DPS resources, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 585-275-3437 or publicsafety@rochester.edu.

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