La Pointe police officer begins bicycle patrols

By Michelle Alfini, NNCCNOW, June 24, 2016

La Pointe, WI (NNCNOW) -- On Madeline Island one La Pointe police officer has found a new way to get around while policing his beat.

Officer Thomas Rossberger figured it would be easier to patrol downtown La Pointe on two wheels instead of four so he souped up his own bicycle and went out on his rounds.

The local response has been positive and now the police department is raising money to purchase a bike for the department to establish a permanent bike patrol.

La Pointe Police Chief William Defoe said having a bike patrol officer allows his department to have a better relationship with the community they serve.

"Our current bike patrol officer has only been working for two weekends and already he has spent more time talking to people than he actually has riding his bike," he said.

Buying a bicycle was not in the police department's budget so they are looking for donations. If they get enough, they hope to buy two bikes so they can have more than one officer on bike patrol.

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