Mike Rathbun
/ file photo
SYRACUSE -- Syracuse University has confirmed new details in the controversy surrounding a top officer in the Department of Public Safety.
Assistant Chief Mike Rathbun is no longer on the job. He was suspended earlier this year for what the University called "insensitive comments." A spokesperson for DPS confirms Rathbun is no longer employed by the school, but could not go into further details because it is a personnel matter.
We have also received questions from viewers about a review of policies at DPS. Chief Tony Callisto says the department is working towards national accreditation, and has hired a consultant. Below is an excerpt from an email Chief Callisto sent to the staff.
"As the Department of Public Safety continues its effort toward national accreditation and continuous improvement, we will be engaging the assistance of a consultant who will assist in a renewed process of strategic planning. As we have every year for the past several years, the Department will identify goals and objectives that will both strengthen our service to the community and improve our internal operations. The process this year has already begun with a community survey that took place over the past couple of months, the results of which will be tabulated soon. A second part of this year's process will be a comprehensive survey of all DPS employees, similar to, but more expansive than, the survey conducted in 2009. Additionally, our consultant will visit various DPS work locations, shifts and operations and talk with employees of all ranks.
By this summer, we will engage in strategic planning meetings as we have over the past few years, but this year's work groups will be interdisciplinary and inter-rank as opposed to the unit-specific and rank-specific meetings and work groups held in the past. The work product of this inclusive effort will be an updated strategic plan that fully prepares us for the final stages of accreditation as well as acting as a springboard for improvements in both internal operations and services to the Syracuse University community. I am very proud of your dedication to the Syracuse University community and the quality of your work in making the University and surrounding neighborhoods a safer place. I look forward to this next step in our continuous improvement effort."
