Bricks and Bikes
by Paul DaiZovi
Lake Forest (IL) Police Department
2020 was a challenging year. As member of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Mobile Field Force (MFF) Bicycle Response Team (BRT), I went to more than 80 call-outs, encompassing numerous protests and several violent riots. I worked during a large-scale riot in Waukegan, a smaller one during a Northwestern University football game, and a larger one in Evanston regarding defunding police.
While operating in that capacity, I had glass bottles of alcohol, bricks, rocks, and fireworks thrown at me. I had laser pointers shined in my eyes and used my bicycle to channel and direct the protesters.
The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) represents a joint venture of suburban municipal police departments in the Chicago metropolitan area. Fifteen police agencies created NIPAS in 1983 to ensure effective police mutual aid in times of natural disasters. From these humble beginnings, the system has grown to include law enforcement agencies of over 100 cities, villages, and towns in five counties. For more information, visit https://www.nipas.org/. ;
Paul is a member of the NIPAS MFF BRT, a Field Training Officer, a Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor, and an Armorer. He graduated from Lake Forest College in 2013 and has been working for Lake Forest Police Department for five years. He enjoys biking to supplement his strength training and often goes on long rides in the summers. He can be reached at DaizoviP@cityoflakeforest.com.
Photos courtesy Paul DaiZovi.
(c) 2021 IPMBA. This article appeared in Volume 30, No. 2, of IPMBA News.