Six members of the SUNY Old Westbury University Police Department were among those honored at the 2020 SUNY Police Chiefs Association Awards this month in a virtual ceremony.
Lieutenant Renee Znack, Investigator Ryon Burnett, Investigator Julie Donley, Technical Sergeant Brett Cruickshank, Officer Amanda Rotherbucher, and Communications and Security Specialist Leonard Baker were recognized with the SUNY Police Chiefs Association Professional Service Award. The award is presented to University Police personnel who perform acts that enhance the operation of their respective Department in response to specific incidents. Investigators Burnett and Donley received a separate Professional Service Award for another incident.
“On behalf of the State University of New York, I want to extend my sincere congratulations to this year’s award recipients and give thanks to all of our law enforcement personnel who work tirelessly each and every day to keep us safe,” said SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. “This was a year of unprecedented challenge, and the recipients managed to save lives, deescalate situations that could have turned deadly, and serve as role models. We asked you to do more, and you stepped up without hesitation. Today and every day you are a great source of pride for our entire university system.”
The SUNY Old Westbury University Police Department is one of 27 such departments throughout the state university system. In that capacity, the department is tasked with maintaining a secure campus and insuring a safe and advantageous environment for learning and community socialization. To achieve this, the University Police Department operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, regardless of the weather conditions.
All members of the College's University Police Department are certified New York State Police Officers with the same authority as any other state, local or municipal police officers within New York State. All officers are trained and prepared to engage in any incident on campus that in any way jeopardizes the safety or well-being of a community member.