Security Services and the office of student life have identified and taken action against the university security guard caught in pictures covering up damage he incurred when he backed his van over a student’s bike and into a university-owned bike rack.
“There was an investigation and appropriate action was taken by the director of Security Services,” Roger Keener, interim vice provost for student life, said.
Keener said because of confidentiality policies he could not release the guard’s name or specific disciplinary measures taken against him.
Senior Carol Ann McCauley filed an incident report and submitted photographic evidence to Security Services March 13, saying that a male security guard backed a gold Chrysler minivan into a bike rack in front of Townhouse 31. Attempting to free the van after it got stuck in the snow, the guard repeatedly hit a bike rack and ran over a bike, damaging its front tire, McCauley said. The guard then drove off and later returned twice to cover up the damaged bicycle with snow, she said.
The damage and cover-up occurred March 11 between 2 and 3 a.m.
McCauley later found out that a second bike was damaged but Keener said he was only aware of one.
Keener said he didn’t know who owns the bike, but said Joe Becker, interim director of Security Services, tried and will continue to try to contact them.
Becker did not respond to e-mail requests for an interview.
Keener said the bike rack will be repaired and the office of student life will compensate the bike’s owner. However, the owner has not filed a complaint or reported any damage.
“I would personally pay for it if (need be) … my concern is the repair be done and the student not be penalized for something that he or she was not responsible for,” he said.
Keener said the van only had a few scrapes from the accident.
He added that he appreciated McCauley coming forward and feels the office of student life and Security Services dealt with the guard appropriately.
“I thanked her (McCauley) because that shows to me that she cares about not only the property of Bonaventure but also the property of another student … The way we handled this situation was the way I would like a Franciscan university and a caring community to handle (something) like this. We did a thorough investigation, and I feel that appropriate actions were taken.”
Keener said the security guard had no previous infractions, and the university will not pursue legal avenues.
“What you have to look at is if any of us are above making mistakes … people do make mistakes and hopefully the guard learned from this mistake. I think he will.”by Shannon Holfoth
Miami Protection .com – Security Guard Services in Miami and South Florida
