ALBANY, N.Y.—Today the Police Benevolent Association of New York State released the following statement, attributable to President James McCartney:
“The PBA of New York State is saddened by the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last week and commends our brother and sister law enforcement officers for their swift work in apprehending a suspect in the case. Incidents like the one in Utah force us to take a hard look at our own policies and procedures, to ensure we are ready for a streamlined mass response if something similar were to happen on a SUNY campus. Equally critical is prevention: sharing resources, intelligence and training to collectively strengthen the defense of our most vulnerable campus communities.
During this time of uncertainty, fear and heightened attention on campus safety, the PBA of New York State urges SUNY and the elected leaders of the state of New York to pass a common-sense SUNY centralization policy.
For years, the PBA of New York State has pursued a sensible SUNY centralization policy for New York’s 29 campuses protected by University Police departments (see list below). SUNY centralization would standardize practices such as statewide leadership and hiring, computer-aided dispatch, digital evidence management, background checks, crime trend analysis and more. It would allow University Police departments across New York to more effectively share information in real-time on coordinated threats of violence, ‘swatting’ incidents, social media dares, sexual assault and harassment, suspect descriptions, and many other law enforcement matters – all of which now occur in a communications vacuum across the 29 University Police-protected campuses.
Presently, New York is closer than ever to SUNY centralization, with bill S4707/A5887 (Stavisky/McMahon) already in committee for the 2025-2026 legislative session. We urge Senators, Assembly members and Governor Kathy Hochul to meaningfully consider and pass this bill in the upcoming legislative year.
The PBA of New York State reaffirms its confidence in the men and women of the New York State University Police. These sworn, fully commissioned police officers enforce all state laws within the confines of their assigned campus and analyze incoming information and potential threats every day. Together, hundreds of University Police officers protect tens of thousands of college and university students, staff, faculty and administrators, ensuring that free thought and the exchange of ideas remain protected on SUNY campuses across the state of New York.”
List of University Police-protected SUNY Campuses (29)
University at Albany
Alfred State College
Binghamton University
SUNY Brockport
University at Buffalo (Amherst)
Buffalo State College
SUNY Canton
SUNY Cobleskill
SUNY Cortland
SUNY Delhi
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Brooklyn)
SUNY ESF – College of Environmental Science & Forestry (Syracuse)
Farmingdale State College
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Geneseo
Maritime College (Throggs Neck)
SUNY Morrisville
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Old Westbury
SUNY Oneonta
College of Optometry (New York City)
SUNY Oswego
SUNY Plattsburgh
SUNY Polytechnic Institute (Utica)
SUNY Potsdam
Purchase College
Stony Brook University
SUNY System Administration (Albany)
Upstate Medical University (Syracuse)
About PBA of New York State: Established in 2011, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State) is a law enforcement labor union representing the interests of approximately 1,200 members of the New York State Agency Police Services Unit (APSU). The PBA of New York State is the exclusive bargaining agent for the New York State University Police, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police (ECO), the New York State Park Police and the New York State Forest Rangers. Our members patrol and protect New York State’s public universities and colleges, state parks and historic sites, and enforce all state laws and regulations protecting New York’s lands, forests, waterways, environment and citizens. Learn more at pbanys.org.