After over a decade of tragedies associated with the Ellicott Creek Bike Path, one group of UB students is trying to make it safer and more appealing in the public eye.
The area is the site where Altemio C. Sanchez allegedly committed rape and even murder several times in the past two and a half decades. After his arrest in January, the bike path still invokes anxiety and fear in many.
Starting Friday, students will begin manning the bike path as part of the new Neighborhood Watch Project. They will be on guard for any suspicious activity or harmful conditions.
Emily Morosi, student director of the Bike Path Neighborhood Watch Project and senior communication major, says that reactions of her friends influenced her to take direct action against the impairing fears of people.
"The reason that I decided to volunteer is I have a lot of girlfriends that express that they don't feel safe on the bike path," Morosi said. "People, especially women, should not live in fear."
She directs a group of 13 UB students who have become involved with the project as a class, Communication Honors.
After receiving two training sessions from Lieutenant David Urbanek of University Police, these 13 volunteers are ready to start the neighborhood watch project this week.
The program is scheduled to continue for the next few weeks on differing days and hours, depending on volunteers' schedules.
According to Lt. Urbanek, the group's focus area will be the exterior region and walking areas of the Ellicott Creek Bike Path. Guided by knowledge of what to look for, how to - without bias - distinguish a threat, and how to report something efficiently and quickly to university police, these initial volunteers are ready for their first stakeout.
"Resulting from the training, people in the class will be more observant," Urbanek said.
Neighborhood Watch members will be distinguishable by orange vests. Keeping watch in two-hour blocks they will be on alert for environmental problems, people in need of first aid, and suspicious activity.
"They will be the extra eyes and ears of the area to be patrolled," he said.
Urbanek said that the project is a partnership between the communication department and the University Police. He says it is standard for neighborhood watches to act under the guidance of the local police department or area Crime Prevention Unit.
"This is the first successful effort that we have had in this arena in many years. Efforts have never moved this quickly, to this extent," Urbanek said.
The project was developed by Kim-alla Swanton, Ph.D., of the department of communication. Lieutenant Urbanek, Mary Cassata, Ph.D., the faculty advisor of the project, and Emily Morosi, student director, also implemented their ideas.
According to Urbanek, Swanton did not develop the project because she believes the area is a crime scene waiting to happen, but rather because it is not a largely observed area.
Lieutenant Urbanek recalls helping save a man on the bike path from a heart attack last September. He says it is in case of these types of emergencies that there is a need for extra eyes and helping hands.
"It is better if we prevent a problem," he said. "This is crime prevention at its purest," Urbanek said.
Leading the project to a fast and successful start, the graduating seniors express that they hope the project does not die off. The group is hoping that someone or another organization on campus will keep the ball rolling on the project.
"The hope is other people in the university will take hold of this project," Cassata said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
