City implements bike patrol to decrease crime
by Kailee E. Gallahan, STAFF WRITER, May 30, 2016, The Exponent Telegram
[Bike Patrol] Staff photo by Wilson Harvey: Officer Justin Moore stands with one of the new bikes that will be used on patrol by members of the Clarksburg Police Department.
CLARKSBURG — The Clarksburg Police Department will be implementing a bicycle patrol in hopes of increasing police presence in the city.
Police Chief Robbie Hilliard believes the system will be up and running by the first week of June, in partnership with its regular vehicle patrol system.
“They attended a week-long police cycling training course at Penn State University, have graduated and are ready to go,” Hilliard said.
The police cycling course included a number of various techniques and skills, such as tactics and approaching people, situation scenarios, bicycle repair and maintenance, night operations, what to do in the event of a chase and standard bicycle patrol procedure.
Hilliard said the idea was thought of previously; however, when several officers brought the idea to the table a second time, they decided to run with it.
“Bike patrols have been proven to work effectively in reducing crime in the cities,” Hilliard added. “It allows police officers to increase their mobility, as well as their visibility.”
The routes will focus on the downtown area, as well as Glen Elk and several other neighborhoods in the community.
According to Hilliard, the bicycle police will be utilizing this system not only during regular shift hours, but during the city’s special events, including festivals, fairs and other public activities, weather permitting.
Justin Moore, an officer who received the training and will be participating in the bicycle patrol, said he was one of the officers that pitched the idea to Hilliard, and he is excited to get started.
Moore said this will be something else the police can do in the community that will cut down the crime rate and give them more of an outreach.
“Not very often do people expect to see police officers on bikes,” Moore said. “Individuals normally look for our patrol vehicles, but this will be unexpected to them. I think that through this technique, we may be able to catch more crimes being committed in the act.”
Many cities have had success with the bike units. With this system, police will be able to access areas that regular patrol vehicles would not be able to fit. In addition to increased mobility, communication with the police will be more inviting.
“For instance, in the alleys and tight spaces our vehicles are not able to enter. Officers on bicycles will be able to squeeze through and continue pursuit if needed,” Moore added.
Moore said he hopes that bringing this new service to the community will help to continue improving the efforts the police take in the city, as well as improving their system.
“I was interested in being a part of this because it is going to give the police an opportunity to be seen in the public as less threatening, and we will be more approachable than if we were in our patrol vehicle,” Moore said. “This will ultimately increase trust and communication between residents and the police.