Lindsay France/University Photography

Cornell police officers in the Major Investigations Unit receive the Frank Hammer Kiwanis Officer of the Month Award, June 16.

Lindsay France/University Photography

Cornell Police Chief Kathy Zoner recognizes Cornell police officers for their work to identify and ensure the safety of a person brought to their attention during Commencement Weekend.

Cornell University police officers Lt. Daniel Murphy, Sgt. Anthony Bellamy and their investigative team – Stan Slovik, Dan Gonzalez, Charles Alridge and Denise Schulze – were recognized with the Frank Hammer Kiwanis Officer of the Month Award June 16 for their work to identify and ensure the safety of a person brought to their attention during Commencement Weekend.

In the early morning of May 23, custodian Peter Thompson found multiple drafts of a handwritten letter in an unsecured campus computer laboratory that revealed its author was despondent. Thompson, his supervisor Chris Edwards, and Brandi Smith, assistant director of community center operations, worked with the Major Investigations Unit of Cornell University Police to identify the letter’s author. Counselors from Gannett Health Services provided guidance.

With no evidence of the author’s identity or affiliation beyond a first name, officers checked for missing or endangered persons calls on and off campus, checked with local high schools for any information, and checked Cornell databases. They narrowed the possibilities to nearly 100 Cornell students, staff, faculty and temporary employees with the same first name and checked on each person.

“The investigative unit engaged not only everything they had to give, but every available resource inside and outside the department,” wrote Cornell University Chief of Police Kathy Zoner in her nomination letter.

The team located the author May 25, ascertained the person’s well-being and received assurance that help had been enlisted.