Photo by Makenna Hall/The Quill
By Gabrielle Chaudry, Staff Writer
Susquehanna’s Department of Public Safety is in the process of urgently finding a candidate to fill the public safety investigator position that has been vacant since November.
The search is a result of previous investigator Ryan Maxwell, leaving the position after receiving another job opportunity.
The department is presently in the process of interviewing potential candidates.
Those involved include Interim Director of Public Safety Chris Bailey, V.I.P. Center Program Coordinator Christiana Paradis, Coordinator for the Johnson Center for Civic Engagement Miranda Carrasquillo, professor of history Edward Slavishak, Associate Director of Public Safety Don Weirick and student representative Alexis King.
“I think everyone on the committee is looking for slightly different qualities in the candidate, which is why we have such a diverse and robust search committee,” Paradis said.
According to Paradis, the public safety investigator’s role entails leading investigations for all conduct violations that occur on campus, ranging from drug and alcohol violations to sexual misconduct and gender-based violence.
As part of an investigation, the investigator is responsible for interviewing the complainant(s), respondent(s) and witnesses, along with writing up final investigation reports that help determine conduct violation charges.
The position also serves on several on-campus committees such as the Title IX Team and Coordinated Community Response Team.
Bailey said the investigator acts as the official Title IX investigator in all of those related cases. Their job includes assisting and supporting all of the public safety officers in any invitations, minor and otherwise.
Paradis said the investigator is also on off-campus committees such as the local STOP (services, training, officers and prosecutors) team, which addresses sexual and domestic violence training and best practices for law enforcement officers at the local level.
This position also helps lead the Department of Public Safety and serves in an officer capacity, as needed for patrols, supervision and other duties.
Paradis said the public safety investigator has a critical role on campus.
“They are charged with fact-finding and investigating any conduct violations, but particularly sexual misconduct and gender-based violence. Thus, they have to be well skilled to conduct trauma-informed interviews, have excellent writing skills to produce their final investigation report, and possess well developed public speaking skills in the event they are called upon to provide a statement at a Title IX hearing or to testify at a court hearing if a student seeks criminal charges through our local PD. This position is similar to that of a detective within a police department,” she said.
Paradis has kept these responsibilities in mind when interviewing candidates: “Some key characteristics for me include: making sure this candidate has a clear understanding of the role of public safety on a college campus and how it differs from a police department, experience leading investigations including cases involving sexual misconduct and gender-based violence, a desire to work with college students, …the ability to present themselves well verbally and in writing, and the ability to maintain positive relationships with local law enforcement and our district attorney.”
Bailey believes it is important to have a public safety investigator “to ensure all investigations are done thoroughly, impartially, efficiently and to the best of our abilities in order to support our internal conduct processes and any external legal proceedings.”
Bailey said he is looking for “professionalism, impartiality, attention to detail, compassion and empathy (i.e., ability to minimize further trauma) with excellent written and verbal communication skills” in candidates. He said higher education and Title IX experience is a bonus.
As of now, Andrew Orzehowski is serving in an interim role. According to Bailey, Orzehowski is qualified and trained with an “extensive investigative background.”
“There has been no gap in coverage,” Bailey continued.
Bailey hopes the position can be filled as soon as possible. The second round of interviews for the top three candidates is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Students were also welcomed to be a part of the second interview process, according to the Student Government Association minutes from Feb. 1.
The two students who volunteered to be involved in the second interview stage are sophomore Olivia Krise and junior Marissa Redding.
Krise said she became interested in the process of hiring a new public safety investigator after taking Paradis’ class on gender-based violence. She then joined the Law Enforcement Subcommittee, an extension of Susquehanna’s Violence Prevention Team.
“I wanted to become involved in this process because I believe that…anyone in accordance [with], or are, the police is facing extreme scrutiny, and I believe it is both justified and not. Not every person in the criminal system is dirty, nor are they all good; the system itself needs to be rewritten, and those in it need more training and screening,” Krise said.
“However, for Susquehanna, what matters most is bringing the right person in who will fit correctly in what is expected and who understands and does their job but is not swallowed by it.”
Krise hopes the new investigator can help and support those involved in investigations by being both thorough and respectful, especially when dealing with highly sensitive, and possibly scary situations. “I look for an open, well informed, calm, responsible individual who understands the true power they hold, and the hope they can possibly bring,” she said.
Similarly, Redding joined the process to find someone to help better student safety on campus.
“I am interested in the interview process because I am the president of It’s On Us on campus, a club dedicated to fighting back against sexual assault culture, on our campus. Our university has areas relating to this aspect of student safety that have room for improvement, and the public safety investigator plays an important role in this process,” Redding said.
“I want to be able to give a student’s perspective and have a voice in picking out a genuine candidate who will help make SU a better place for students,” she continued.
As a representative of It’s On Us, some questions that will be asked refer to the interviewees’ experiences working with college-aged students, victims of sexual assault and relationship violence as well as with individuals of different backgrounds and identities, according to the club’s meeting minutes from Feb. 10.