University Police Officers’ Actions Save Lives at UB & Buffalo State

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

NEWS RELEASE: Training Keeps PBA of New York Members Ready to Respond on Campus and in the Community

For the second time in less than a month, members of the PBA of New York State have been involved in extraordinary emergency life-saving response on the campuses of the University at Buffalo and at Buffalo State. Thanks to the presence of well-prepared, and effective University Police officers, two students whose hearts had stopped, were revived, and are recovering.

The most recent episode occurred on February 15, when an emergency call was received from the Buffalo State library reporting a student was having trouble breathing, in the course of several minutes she had lost consciousness and a pulse was unable to be detected.

University Police Officer Patrick Luvender, a December 2017 police academy graduate, and Field Training Officer Kenneth Herberger were dispatched to the scene amazingly just moments after completing an in service course teaching the latest techniques and improvements in the administration of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). As Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) rushed to the Buffalo State campus, Officer Luvender immediately applied CPR to the student, reviving her. Shortly thereafter, the patient, was turned over to the care of EMTs who further administered critical support and transport to a local hospital.

In another amazing series of events, on January 25, a UB student, participating in a club lacrosse practice, at the University’s Alumni arena located on the north campus, was severely injured following an incident during which the hard-rubber ball struck the player in the chest, resulting in a loss of consciousness and severe bleeding. The injured player was unresponsive when Lt. David Urbanek of University Police, a 31-year veteran, with 40 years of training as an EMT arrived on the scene. Urbanek immediately began CPR as athletic department staff located an Automated Electronic Defibrillator (AED) at the facility and delivered it to first responders. After EMT’s administered a shock, the student was transferred to Erie County Medical Center. Although initially in grave condition, with survival in doubt, the student left the hospital days later which doctors attributed to the quick intervention by first responders.

“The entire 1,250-member PBA of New York State is proud of Lt. Urbanek, Officer Luvender and FTO Herberger,” said Scott Marciszewski, a PBA of New York State Director, and Lieutenant serving with the University at Buffalo Police Department. “I am confident that without the essential training and ability to implement it when circumstances are critical, we may have had tragic outcomes for these students, their families and the community we serve.”

Peter Barry, President of the PBA of New York State, and a veteran of the University at Albany Police Department said, “Each day, officers report for their shifts on state university campuses across the state thinking they are about to start a routine tour, however, no day is ever the same, and we must be prepared for circumstances that keep the community safe. Our members confront the same crimes being countered by police departments with far more resources – everything from individuals possessing firearms, to incidents of sexual assault, to counter-terrorism details – we see it all – and, are prepared to respond.”

* * *

The PBA of New York State is the exclusive bargaining agent for the New York State University (SUNY) Police, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, the New York State Park Police, and the New York State Forest Rangers. Our members police and protect New York State’s public universities and colleges; state parks and historic sites; and they enforce state laws and protect our lands and forests and ensure environmental safety and quality throughout the state.