Police bike patrols more visible than ever downtown
By Ed Gallek, 19 Action News Digital Team, July 11, 2014
CLEVELAND, OH -
Police bike patrols have become more visible than ever in downtown Cleveland, and the bikes were a gift from LeBron James even before he left town to play for Miami.
This week, Cleveland Police officers rode bikes behind protesters crowding the Convention Center, as well as around downtown streets. Written on those bikes was "King James" -- a reference to LeBron James.
The Cleveland Police Chief's Office says LeBron donated 10 bikes before he left town. Oddly, he's coming home at a time when downtown units seem to be more visible than ever.
We've learned the bike units have helped take back Public Square. In recent months, that area has been troubled by violent teens and more.
The bike patrols have helped crack down on aggressive panhandlers. Those officers have even written tickets to drivers.
The bike patrols go where patrol cars in traffic cannot. They can even get into crowds, sometimes barely noticed.
Although many towns have bike patrols, the ones in Cleveland are now playing a bigger role in downtown safety. Doing it with a gift from a sports hero is likely to attract even more fans downtown.
Watch the video: http://www.19actionnews.com/story/26001052/police-bike-patrols-more-visible-than-ever-downtown-bikes-from-lebron