MVPD has three new bicycle officers
By TRAVIS MORSE, The Mount Vernon Register-News, June 15, 2016
Photo: Mt. Vernon police officers James Carlton, left, and Jessica Callahan are both new members of the Mt. Vernon Police Department's Bike Unit. A third new bicycle officer, not pictured, is Andrew Blandford.
MT. VERNON IL — Three Mt. Vernon police officers are hitting the streets this summer as the newest members of the Bike Unit.
Officers James Carlton, Jessica Callahan and Andrew Blandford have successfully completed 32 hours of police cyclist training at the St. Louis Police Academy. They will now patrol the streets as members of the Mt. Vernon Police Department Bike Unit.
“I feel that it's better for community relations obviously,” said Carlton, who is in his second year with the MVPD. “We look more casual, I feel, in these uniforms so we're a little bit more approachable by the public.”
Callahan, who is in her first year on the force, added that not being in a squad car makes it easier to interact with the public.
“They can talk to you and your windows aren't up in your squad car, you know,” Callahan said. “You're on a bicycle so you just talk to everyone, get off your bike and just make more positive contact with the community.”
The Bike Unit had been down a few officers until recently due to changes and transfers within the department, said Police Chief Chris Deichman.
Blandford, Carlton and Callahan are still considered patrol officers, in addition to being assigned to the Bike Unit. They will patrol many different parts of the city depending on the day.
Carlton and Callahan have been assigned to patrol together on their bikes. One of their first patrol assignments Friday was stopping by the Relay for Life at Veterans Park.
“We ride together but we're assigned specific parts of the community, like different sections, whether it be the south part, east part, west part of town,” Carlton said. “That comes from shift command but we'll always ride together.”
Deichman said the MVPD is pleased to assign three more officers to bike patrol.
“It's just a real good way to get out and have positive contact with the public,” Deichman said.