Public Safety

Welcome to the York College Office of Public Safety — where safety meets service with purpose. We’re not just a department; we’re your dedicated partners in creating a campus environment that feels safe, inclusive, and supportive for everyone.

Our Mission
To protect and serve the York College community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion—ensuring every student, faculty member, and visitor feels secure, respected, and supported.

Our Vision
A campus where safety is not just a service but a shared value. We envision a community built on trust, accessibility, and proactive engagement, where every member has the freedom to learn, grow, and thrive.

How We Got Here
The CUNY Public Safety Department was established in 1991, uniting all 25 CUNY campuses under one mission: to provide a safe, welcoming space for higher education. At York College, we continue that mission through a blend of training, community-focused service, and a strong connection to our students and staff.

Our Officers: Who’s Who in Blue

• Campus Peace Officers (CPOs)
  Sworn New York State Law Enforcement Officers, our CPOs are trained at the CUNY Public Safety Academy for approx. five months and have law enforcement authority across New York State. They handle emergencies, traffic control, conduct investigations, have powers of arrest, enforce laws, provide first aid, CPR, conduct safety trainings, and respond to incidents on campus. You’ll spot them in navy-blue uniforms—dedicated professionals keeping our campus safe.

• Campus Security Assistants (CSAs)
  CSAs are NYS Security Officers and are a key part of our team. They provide a welcoming presence, assist with access control, medical emergencies, aid in administrative duties and help deter unwanted activity. While they do not have arrest authority like CUNY Peace Officers do, their presence is essential to maintaining a secure and supportive environment. Look for their light blue shirts and approachable demeanor.

More Than Just Security

From emergency response to community workshops on safety and preparedness, our team is here to support and serve. Many of us are CUNY graduates or York alum, and we understand the importance of a campus where people feel safe, seen and heard.

Stop by the Public Safety Office in Academic Core 1M02 or call 718-262-2222.

York College Public Safety — Here for you, 24/7/365.

Taking Better Care of Ourselves So We Can Better Serve You!

Officer Wellness at York College Public Safety

York College Public Safety recognizes that officer wellness is essential to both personal well-being and effective public service. A strong culture of care begins with taking care of ourselves, allowing us to better serve our campus community.

In 2023, York College Public Safety hosted a two-day Officer Wellness Symposium with more than 200 law enforcement professionals and launched a centralized officer wellness resource portal for CUNY Public Safety Memebers, which continues to grow with both first responder specific programs, events, and CUNY and local community resources. Our department also established an annual Officer Recognition BBQ that includes officers, department staff and thier families, recognizing the critical role family support plays in resilience.

In 2025, York College Public Safety began participation in Strive to Thrive, a nationally recognized First Responder training program focused on building mental resilience, physical health, stress management, and long-term sustainability in public safety careers.

Forr 2026, we have expanded resources, will launch a Public Safety Book Club, and continue building resilancey skills into everyday operations, making wellness not just a program, but a lasting part of our culture.

Below are links to several resources, fun activities, and helpful tips to support our team's well being:

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

24/7 Support Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA)

CUNY Work/Life

CUNY Faculty & Staff Support Portal

Your Benefits - Teamsters Local 237

DC 37 Health and Security Plan Benefits

LMHF Strive to Thrive 1st Responder Wellness Program

First Responders Bridge

York College Wellness Wednesday's

Eco-Therapy Walk Sign-Up Form

Cardio Pulmonary Diagnostic Captain-Buscio

Officer Wellness Resources - Fraternal Order of Police

Adopt A Cop BJJ Fitness Program

NY Beyond The Badge USA

Valor Officer Safety & Wellness Program

SafeHorizon

New York Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centers

Detox And Rehab Centers In New York

SAMSHA Technical-AssistanceTraining: Online Disaster Technical Assistance Center DTAC

First Response: This 1-hour online course addresses the stressors faced by first responders when responding to opioid overdose calls and provides evidence-based strategies to mitigate the impacts of these stressful events.

Service to Self: This 1-hour online course addresses occupational stressors, mental health and substance use issues, and healthy coping mechanisms specifically for first responders. 

Creating Safe Scenes: This 1.5-hour online course helps first responders assess risks and apply safe, positive approaches when assisting individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder.

Shield of Resilience: This 1-hour online course helps law enforcement officers to better understand and address behavioral health stressors unique to their line of work.

Start With Sleep, LLC, based in New York State, is a global leader in sleep health education and advocacy, dedicated to driving action over awareness. The organization delivers innovative programming, workplace training, and personalized services, including sleep coaching and home sleep testing, that empower individuals, employers, and communities to achieve healthier sleep.

The Doze is a lifestyle-driven online destination for those seeking to elevate their sleep experience and embark on a journey of personal growth. It offers an exclusive line of curated sleep-enhancing products tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. From innovative sleep aids to customized sleep kits, each product is designed to elevate the sleep experience based on individual requirements, fostering restful nights and rejuvenated mornings.

The Doze Podcast is a supportive and empowering platform that delivers science-backed insights and conversations, particularly for women of color balancing careers and caregiving.  It helps challenge cultural narratives that devalue rest and reframes sleep as the foundation of health, performance, and overall well-being.

SleepSpace 14-Day Sleep Tracking App It is is a hands-free sleep tracking app that uses the built-in sensors of any smartphone—no wearable required. It tracks your sleep stages, provides personalized insights, and offers guided sound and light routines to help you fall asleep faster and wake up refreshed.

Home Sleep Testing Options  Accessible home sleep testing services are available to identify sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. With medical oversight and at-home convenience, employees gain valuable insights into their sleep health and receive guidance on next steps for treatment and improvement.

Training - Police and Peace Officer, Security Guard, Forensic - NY DCJS

FBI National Academy Training - LE

CUNY Professional Development

We recognize that trust and legitimacy are critical to effective policing. We work to ensure that our officers operate with integrity, accountability, and transparency. Our policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices and community expectations. We maintain a daily crime log for campus activity that our community can review at the Public Safety Office.

We are committed to upholding the law and protecting the rights of all individuals. Our policies and practices are based on the highest standards of professional conduct and are in line with local and national guidelines.

The publication of our Annual Security Report is a means of sharing with you our security policies and crime statistics for the most recent three-year period. In compliance with the 1990 Clery Act, this information must be disseminated annually to all students and employees.

To learn more about Clery please visit the U.S. Department of Education

Technology is a crucial tool for modern law enforcement. Our goals include obtaining the latest tools to enhance our effectiveness and efficiency, such as body-worn cameras, access control, state-of-the-art security cameras, and additional automated services to provide added safety and convenience to our community. We will also use social media like the Cardinal App and YC Regroup to communicate with our community, share important information, and gather feedback.

For more information on Body-Worn Cameras please see our CUNY FAQ page: Body-Worn Cameras – The City University of New York

Our crime prevention approach is centered around community partnership. We work closely with campus community members to detect and tackle crime and safety issues. Furthermore, we team up with other agencies and organizations to create effective prevention and intervention tactics. Our policing is evidence-based and data-driven, which includes prioritizing patrols in areas with high activity through focused patrols. Although we do not overlook random patrol functions, we concentrate our efforts on areas with high activity to prevent and deter crime and address other safety concerns.

Our officers undergo thorough and ongoing training to ensure that they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills needed to serve our community. We aim to offer collaborative educational experiences to help our community better understand Public Safety’s role and how to work together to prevent crime and build a stronger, safer campus together. Officer-led community-facing training will include, Bleeding control, CPR, First Aid, and AED, lock down and evacuation drills, office safety trainings, and leadership discussions.