Bike Patrol: Officers straddle transport options
With more than 31,000 residents to serve and protect, the Shawnee Police Department has its work cut out for it. Of the 82,775 service calls –– an average of 226 per day –– that came through the city's dispatch department in 2014, it is evident that for these 59 officers, time is of the essence.
By Vicky O. Misa, Shawnee (OK) News-Star, October 22, 2015
ED BLOCHOWIAK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Shawnee Police Department officers Cpl. Vivian Lozano and Cpl. Andrew Terry patrol Main Street near Shawnee Public Library. There are 22 officers who, at times, take to the streets on bicycles during their shifts.
With more than 31,000 residents to serve and protect, the Shawnee Police Department has its work cut out for it. Of the 82,775 service calls –– an average of 226 per day –– that came through the city’s dispatch department in 2014, it is evident that for these 59 officers, time is of the essence.
There are many aspects to becoming efficient at one’s job. Having helpful tools is one of them.
One of the many programs the police department has at its disposal is the Shawnee Bicycle Patrol team –– formed in July of 2005.
Bicycle team members have attended training through the International Mountain Police Bicycle program, which trains police officers for bike patrol from all across the nation, the police website states.
Over the course of 10 years, the program has grown to 22 officers trekking around the city at various times and locations.
City Manager Justin Erickson said the bike patrol is a citywide effort, not just focused on downtown. “During the pool season, we had an officer assigned to the Shawnee Splash, Splash Pad (Boy Scout Park) and the downtown area.”
He said, “We received excellent feedback from the public and it positively impacted the downtown area by increasing the police presence. The officer was able to make individual contacts with merchants and was widely seen by the public. That officer also was routinely on a bike.”
The patrols increase police visibility, not only in Shawnee neighborhoods, but at community events, as well.
“We also provide additional officers including bike patrol, for downtown events such as the Third Friday event and others,” Erickson said.
Police Chief Russell Frantz said there are bike patrollers on duty for every shift –– that doesn’t mean there are officers on bikes 24 hours a day ––but it does mean that at any time, day or night, someone on the force is able to utilize the more versatile means of transport as the need arises.
More cost efficient than horses or motorcycles, bicycles can piggy back on patrol cars ––ready to go as needed –– which adds to an officer’s ability to adjust to various situations.
Bicycles are small, quick and quiet. Officers can be stealthy when monitoring a situation, as well as easily cut through crowded areas, like festivals and community events, Frantz said.
According to the police department website at shawneeok.org, the program allows officers in Shawnee to go where police vehicles cannot. Police bikes can be used in high crime areas, where an officer on a bike can get into a neighborhood less visibly than in a cruiser.
Police surveillance duties are not the only purpose bicycles can fill. The program also helps officers to get to know people in the neighborhoods, and those people can get to know the officers.
“In June 2015, Cpl. Shawn Parsons began patrolling downtown on a regular basis. Immediately after this, I received lots of positive feedback from downtown merchants and saw several positive postings on Facebook,” Linda Agee, chairman of the Chamber’s Downtown Task Force, said.
“In terms of the future, we certainly hope to maintain the program and grow it over time to ensure we are meeting the needs of the public,” Erickson said. “We will work closely with the City Commission to address these and other priorities as part of the budgetary and planning process.”
Agee said, “Our downtown task force would like to see year-round bike patrol as weather permits.”