Saint Vincent College Community Demands Action Against Safety Officer(s) in Alleged Altercation with Students
SVC Community Demands the Immediate Removal and Appropriate Disciplinary Action Regarding the Public Safety Officer(s) Involved in the Alleged Altercation, Physical Contact, and Verbal Threats on October 1, 2026
To: President Rev. Paul Taylor and Leadership of Saint Vincent College
We are Saint Vincent College alumni and members of the broader Saint Vincent community who care deeply about the safety, dignity, and well-being of current students.
Recent public reporting has raised serious allegations concerning Public Safety Officer(s) involved in an incident at Saint Vincent College on October 1, 2026. The allegations include physical and verbal threats toward students, including allegations of physical contact and threatening or intimidating conduct.
These allegations are deeply concerning because they involve individuals serving in positions of authority specifically entrusted with the safety and security of Saint Vincent students.
Students should never have to fear the people responsible for their safety.
We recognize that allegations must be investigated fairly and that every individual is entitled to due process. At the same time, when serious allegations concern a person exercising authority over students, the College has a responsibility to take immediate steps to protect students while those allegations are investigated.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DEMAND THAT THE COLLEGE:
1. Immediately remove the Public Safety Officer(s) involved in the alleged October 1, 2026 incident from campus and from all Public Safety authority, student-facing responsibilities, and other duties involving contact with students while the matter is investigated.
2. Conduct a complete, impartial, and independent investigation into the reported incident, including interviews with all students and witnesses who have come forward.
3. Take appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, if the allegations are substantiated.
4. Preserve all relevant evidence, including surveillance footage, recordings, incident reports, communications, and witness statements.
5. Conduct a comprehensive review of Saint Vincent College’s current search and seizure policy to determine whether it is consistent with the College’s stated core values, mission, and principles, and revise the policy as necessary to ensure that it appropriately reflects those values.
6. Evaluate the current search and seizure policy and its application against Saint Vincent College’s stated core values, mission, and principles, including whether the policy appropriately respects the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of the students and community members it affects.
7. Require all current and future Saint Vincent College Public Safety officers to complete and maintain recognized certification in de-escalation, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and appropriate use-of-force procedures. Such training should include instruction designed to prevent unnecessary escalation and physical confrontation, and should be completed before an officer is permitted to exercise Public Safety authority and renewed periodically thereafter.
8. Protect students from retaliation or further inappropriate contact for reporting alleged threats, intimidation, physical contact, or other misconduct.
9. Provide meaningful transparency to the Saint Vincent community regarding the steps being taken to protect students and address the allegations.
Saint Vincent College has a responsibility to maintain an environment in which students feel safe, respected, and protected. That responsibility is especially important when allegations involve someone whose position gives that individual authority over students.
Removing an accused public safety officer from student contact while serious allegations are investigated is not a determination of guilt. It is a reasonable precaution intended to protect students, preserve the integrity of an investigation, and maintain confidence in campus safety.
We are also calling upon Saint Vincent College to examine whether its policies and training requirements adequately reflect the values and responsibilities expected of those entrusted with campus safety. Policies governing searches, seizures, use of force, and interactions with students should be consistent with the dignity and rights of every member of the Saint Vincent community.
We are therefore calling on Saint Vincent College leadership to act immediately and decisively.
Student safety must come first.
We invite Saint Vincent College alumni, current and former members of the Saint Vincent community, parents, families, and other community members who support these principles to add their names to this petition.
SIGN THIS PETITION AND STAND WITH SAINT VINCENT STUDENTS.
-
This petition concerns publicly reported allegations. Signing does not constitute a determination of guilt or a waiver of any individual’s right to due process.
In the news:
https://wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-saint-vincent-college-officer-students/74070530