Dunmore plans to increase community policing with bike patrols
By Kyle Wind, The Scranton Times-Tribune, October 28, 2016
DUNMORE PA — Borough police wanted to ramp up bike patrols this summer as a community policing tactic but encountered a problem when they tried to dust off the nearly 15-year-old bicycles.
“With the crime going up and the officers getting older, unfortunately the bikes kind of sat dormant for years,” Capt. Richard Barth said. “When we did try to utilize them, they were shot. ... When we tried to put them back in service, they were beyond repair. The tires were dry-rotted. The brakes, chains were rusted.”
With a young group of officers enthusiastic about patrolling Dunmore on bikes, the plan got a boost Thursday when Toyota of Scranton donated to the borough three $1,500 police mountain bikes, equipped with sirens, LED lights, headlights, utility bags and helmets.
Despite the colder temperatures, Capt. Barth expects the new bicycles to be used as early as this weekend, to keep trick-or-treating children safe and prevent vandalism.
Patrolman Tom Richardson is one of a handful of officers who took the old bikes out on patrols over the summer despite their condition and saw value in it.
Residents found the officer more approachable than when he was in a police car, Patrolman Richardson said, and the officer can ride in parks and other places a car can’t go and see things he might not pick up while driving.
Capt. Barth used to ride on bike patrols about 15 years ago and made similar observations.
“(Residents) are going to be more apt to come out and actually talk with an officer when they wouldn’t normally flag you down or have something they would feel too silly calling 911 over,” the 22-year department veteran said.
He also remembered making some traffic stops and drug arrests while on bike patrols, noting people don’t always see officers coming on a bicycle.
“We wouldn’t necessarily be able to stop them on Blakely Street when they’re going 40 mph, but once they got to the red light, you could stop them — as long as you could keep up with them,” Capt. Barth said.
Four Dunmore police officers are certified for bike patrols.
The plan is to get an additional four to five officers certified and have two to three bicycles out on weekends, patrolling the business district or spots that might need some specific attention.