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SAFEwalk worker assaulted while escorting student home
Employee verbally assaulted, battered; first time on record
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Two Madison men were arrested early Thursday morning for the battery of a University of Wisconsin SAFEwalk employee near the corner of Park and Johnson streets.
SAFEwalk Supervisor Troy Ruland wrote in an e-mail to The Badger Herald that two SAFEwalkers were escorting a student home when two men in a vehicle pulled up next to them. Upon exiting the vehicle, they began verbally assaulting one of the SAFEwalkers before eventually striking them.
“The second SAFEwalker responded quickly by ensuring the escort was safe while
also calling in the assault over the radio to UWPD,” Ruland said. “The SAFEwalkers in this incident followed all of our procedures when dealing with a situation.”
According to a UW Police Department press release, officers responded to their call at approximately 11:57 p.m. Once they arrived at the scene, eyewitnesses indicated a stopped vehicle nearby believed to contain two suspects.
After the officers made contact with the car, Nathaniel Showers, 22 and Yusef Wafford, 24, were arrested and booked into the Dane County Jail, according to the release. Both have been tentatively charged with substantial battery. Showers was also arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
“We don’t get a lot of battery calls in the downtown area,” UWPD Lt. Kari Sasso said. “To have something like this happen so early on in the school year was really a surprise. It wasn’t somebody targeting anyone; I don’t think anyone else is currently in any sort of danger.”
According to the release, the victim was treated at Meriter Hospital and then released. Ruland said no serious injury was sustained.
Ruland said a “physical altercation” has never occurred with SAFEwalk in the past.
“These are students who care about our campus community and do a great job at what they do. We are committed as an organization and as a team to promote safety, provide safe travel options, and to provide a dependable presence on campus for all University of Wisconsin students, faculty, staff and guests,” Ruland said.
Sasso emphasized students should be aware at all times of their surroundings and walk in groups or utilize SAFEwalk when walking after dark.
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Their SAFEness made them a target. This program is largely a waste of our dollars, put the $$ toward SAFEride.
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Who assaults a SAFEwalker? Seriously. Rock on SAFEwalk!
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SAFEwalk funding comes from transportation services. That is, moeny from event parking, parking tickets, and daily use of the numerous lots across campus. not ‘our money’ as i am assuming to mean mine and your tuition money. SAFEride is all ASM, which is tuition funded, so if you want more money for that, talk to your student government.
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SAFEwalk and SAFEride are under two different departments, and are paid for in two different ways. It isn’t quite as simple as saying move the money from A to B.
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SAFEride’s costs are fixed. The more it is used, the more it costs. Throwing more money towards the program would do nothing as we are required to pay for each ride regardless.
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As a parent of a UW student it is very reassuring that my daughter has access to Safewalk when she needs it. They do a great job!
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The SAFEwalk worked. The escort was protected, the police were called, and they caught the criminals. Next time they won’t mess with the safe walkers!