Who We Are and What We Do

New York State University Police is a group of professional, highly trained and duly sworn law enforcement professionals. New York State University Police is a state law enforcement agency; wherein, its officers receive training from municipal police academies. The requirements to become a member of the University Police are among the most stringent in the country. University Police must have completed a minimum of 60 college credits, pass a written civil service exam and then compete with candidates from across the state for a position. An officer must then pass an extensive background investigation to receive an offer of employment.

One third of our officers are certified instructors in such topics as firearms, defensive tactics, OC spray, ethical awareness, live scan electronic fingerprinting and ethical awareness. Officers also have acquired additional training in the areas of radar operation, police bicycle patrol, standard field sobriety testing, sexual assault investigations and active shooter.

A common misconception is that our primary function is to write parking tickets and lock or unlock doors. This simply is not true. Yes, we are responsible for ensuring the adherence of the parking rules and regulations, however, issuing parking citations accounts for the smallest percentage our workday. University Police are not employed to perform security functions; rather, our goal is to provide a sense of security to the college community. Although we do assist citizens with various services and programs, our primary objective, and the reason for our very existence, is law enforcement.

University Police Staff

Chief David Dugatkin
In June 2011, David Dugatkin came on board as the department's Chief of Police. Prior to that he served with the Town of New Paltz Police Department for 21 years. Throughout Dugatkin’s tenure with the Town of New Paltz, he implemented new programs and conducted extensive training within his department and regionally. He created and launched the department’s First Responder EMS program, is a New York State Certified Paramedic and served as program manager for New York State Accreditation, a four-year project that involved a full overhaul of the department’s policy and procedure manual.

Dugatkin has also worked closely with the University Police as an instructor, providing him with in-depth knowledge of a modern campus police unit. For many years, the University Police Department and the New Paltz Police Department have worked cooperatively to coordinate law enforcement efforts between the Town, Village and College.

A 1985 alumnus of New Paltz, Dugatkin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Not only does this experience provide him with knowledge of student life and the challenges and situations students may encounter, but it’s also the foundation upon which he has built his successes.

Chief Dugatkin can be contacted directly at 845-257-3337.

 Secretary 1 Cecelia Tapley - Serving Since 1993

      Education:

• Berkley Secretarial School

       Assignments:

• Spectrum Justice Administrator
• N-Dex & NY-Dex Coordinator
• Cleary Act Coordinator
• Webmaster

CPSO 1 (Dispatchers):

Cheryl E. Benjamin - Serving Since 2013

     Education:

• Marist College - Criminal Justice & Psychology B.S.

Susan Best - Serving Since 2009

      Education:

• Seminole Community College - Basic Law Enforcement Academy

Joseph Corton - Serving Since 2007

      Education:

• Everest University Associates Homeland Security
• Everest University B.A. Criminal Justice 

Investigator Mary Ritayik - Serving Since 1998

     Education:

• SUNY Cortland - B.A. in Sociology, concentration in Criminology, Minor in History

      Certifications:

• Basic Criminal Investigations
• Crime Scene Photography
• Interview & Interrogation

      Assignments:

• E-Justice & Portal TAC
• Evidence Custodian
• Clery Act Coordinator

Lieutenant Johnny G. Coxum - Serving Since 1998

      Education:

• Associates Degree in Criminal Justice
• B.A. Sociology

      Certifications:

• General Topics Instructor & Evaluation
• Bicycle Patrol
• R.A.D. Instructor
• Datamaster

      Assignments:

• Community Policing/Crime Prevention Supervisor
• Quartermaster
• Escort Service Supervisor
• Clery Act Coordinator

Lieutenant Michael Doyle - Serving Since 1984

    Education:

• Ulster Community College A.A.S. Criminal Justice
• SUNY New Paltz  B.A. Political Science

    Certifications:

• R.A.D. Women's Self-Defense Instructor
• Instructor for CPR/AED
• Bicycle Patrol
• Datamaster

    Assignments:

• Liason for Ulster County STOP DWI
• TSLED Liason for NYS DMV Albany
• Communication/Dispatch Supervisor

Lieutenant John Ritayik Jr.- Serving Since 1998

      Education:

• SUNY Oswego B.A. Criminal Justice

      Certifications:

• R.A.D. Instructor
• Taser Instructor
• Firearms Instructor
• Bicycle Patrol
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Field Training Officer

Lieutenant Timothy Wurtz - Serving Since 1985

      Education:

• Associates in Criminal Justice

      Certification:

• Field Training Command
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

Training Coordinator

Police Officer Talia M. Badillo - Serving Since 2010

      Education:

• Orange County Community College A.A.S  

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Juanta Carson - Serving Since 2008

      Education:

• John Jay College of Criminal Justice B.S. Science

      Certification:

• R.A.D. Instructor
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Bruce Chambers - Serving Since 2005

      Education:

• University of New Haven B.A. Criminal Justice; Law Enforcement Administration

      Certification: 

• Advanced Roadside Imparied Driving Enforcement (A.R.I.D.E)
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer/Field Training Officer    

Police Officer Jim Coyle- Serving Since 1983

      Education:

• Hofstra University B.A. Political Science
• University of Phoenix M.A. History

     Certification:

• FBI Certification in Hostage/Crisis Negotiations
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Adam Darmstadt  - Serving Since 2004

      Education:

• Hawaii Pacific University B.A. Business Administration

      Certification:

• Bicycle Patrol
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Gerry Kaleja - Serving Since 1993

      Education:

• Herbert H. Lehman College B.A. Psychology

      Certification:

• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer/Accreditation Team

Police Officer Jenelle Kelsey- Serving Since 2004

      Education:

• SUNY Cortland B.A. Science

      Certifications:

• R.A.D. Instructor & R.A.D. Kids
• Certified Crime Scene Technician
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Ryan Law - Serving Since 2009

       Education:

• SUNY Canton
• Ulster County Community College/Ulster Law Enforcement Training Group
• NYS Corrections Academy

      Certification:

• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Gary Pietropaolo- Serving Since 2010

      Education:

• Marist College B.S. Criminal Justice

      Certification:

• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer/Body Camera Administrator
• Bicycle Patrol

Police Officer William Ricci - Serving Since 2008

      Education:

• Manhattan College

      Certifications:

• FEMA Emergency Manager
• General Topics Instructor

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer/EMS Coordinator

Police Officer William Shaw - Serving Since 2006

      Education:

• SUNY Cobleskill Associates in Fisheries & Wildlife
• MPTC Otsego Law Enforcement Academy

     Certifications:

• General Topics Instructor
• Defensive Tactics Instructor
• Datamaster

       Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Michael Sodders - Service Since 1999

       Education:

• SUNY Stony Brook B.A.

      Certifications:

• Datamaster
• First Responder
• Datamaster

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Gregory Thompson Serving Since 2000

      Education:

• Nassau Community College A.A.
• Hofstra University

      Certifications:

• Datamaster
• Field Training Officer

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Victor Torres - Serving Since 1996

      Education:

• Orange County Community College A.A.S. Criminal Justice

      Certifications:

• Bicycle Patrol
• Basic R.A.D. Instructor

       Assignment:

• Patrol Officer

Police Officer Dave Vorisek - Serving Since 2002

       Education:

• SUNY Delhi A.A.S.

      Certifications:

• Bicycle Patrol
• V&T Prosecution

      Assignment:

• Patrol Officer/Tracs Administrator

Police Officer Ryan Williams - Serving Since 2004

      Education:

• SUNY Ulster Associates in Criminal Justice

      Certifications:

• DHS Law Enforcement Active Shooter Response Instructor
• Taser Instructor
• Firearms Instructor
• Datamaster

      Assignments:

• Firearms Instructor
• Taser Instructor
• Department Armorer
• Active Shooter Response Instructor
• DMT Supervisor
• PBA Delegate
• Patrol Officer