"Eagle Eye" groundskeepers help keep campus secure

Pete Millier, front right, recognizes his grounds staff, including Armando Llamas, Dave Garibay, and Amos Walton, with an Eagle Eye Award.

by Tom Uribes

When he radioed campus police to report an inebriated man not quite fully dressed, groundskeeper Amos Walton wasn't thinking about winning any commendations for keeping the campus safe.

But for his efforts, Walton received Plant Operation's "Eagle Eye of the Month" Award.

The award is an informal recognition of groundskeepers' efforts to keep aware of suspicious, or emergency, situations occurring on campus - and to radio for help - as part of their charge to keep the grounds attractive and safe.

"It's a little way to recognize those who not only do their job but also take extra steps to serve our campus better," said Pete Millier, manager of grounds and landscape architecture, who instigated the award when he came to Fresno State in 1996 from Clovis Unified.

"It reinforces [that they should] keep their eyes open and their minds focused on what we are here to do - to work on the grounds but also watch for safety concerns for students and employees."

Millier usually announces the award - which consists only of verbal recognition - at staff meetings on first Thursdays.

Besides providing additional eyes and ears for campus security and safety, the award has helped Millier in his quest to obtain radios for all 23 groundskeepers.

David Garibay received the first award after he saw a young man lurking near the southwest end of the Education Building. At that time, Garibay was one of the few groundskeepers who had radios and, concerned about the small children at the day care center, he was able to call campus police without going in search of a phone.

"Sgt. Lupe Shrum responded to Dave's call, and the subject told her that he was waiting for his girlfriend. But Lupe discovered that he had burglary tools and she collared him," Millier said. "That showed the importance of all groundskeepers having radios."

Millier has issued about ten awards, mostly for fender-bender type, vehicle-vs.-vehicle incidents.

Staff members have reported car fires, bike thefts, and suspicious individuals. But some serious medical emergencies have also prompted the award, which is given only when the occasion warrants - about every other month so far, Millier said.

Amos Walton witnessed a faculty member fall with a seizure at the residence halls, near some cars, out of sight, where he might have gone undetected for some time.

"Amos was driving by on his cart when he saw the professor fall," Millier explained. "Amos circled back to offer assistance but when he realized the man was having a seizure, he immediately radioed in for trained professionals. The instructor may have stayed in that spot for hours if Walt had not been there."

Gardener Armando Llamas saw a student slumped over her bicycle on the ground near the Agriculture Science Building and radioed for the police to send an ambulance. He stayed with her until police arrived moments later.

About a month ago, groundskeeper Chuck Garcia saw someone jump from what turned out to be a stolen car and flee, leaving the unmanned car dangerously rolling down Bulldog Lane.

"Sometimes the award is humorous - such as when we congratulated Chuck ... for turning in a stolen car with no driver," Millier said.

Walton's experience with the exposed man had its moments, too.

"This guy had gotten off the bus, drunk," Millier said. "He apparently didn't know he was exposed. The dispatcher at first didn't understand Walt's description of the problem, until Walt finally told her exactly the part of anatomy that was exposed."

The main eagle eye practices what he preaches - reporting a vehicle fire on his way to lunch one day about a year ago. While waiting for the fire department to arrive, Millier helped quench the fire with an extinguisher that someone brought from his office after he radioed in.

But, he said, he doesn't give himself the award.