MPD outside in full force this summer
Officers will be seen on two wheels
By STEPHANIE IVANKOVICH - Staff Writer , May 25, 2014, Times-Republican
The summer sun means more people will be outside - including police in various capacities.
Capt. Brian Batterson, of the Marshalltown Police Department, said in the summer months the type of crime varies from year to year. However, since more people are outside the crime rate is steady and police will be out on two and four wheels.
"We have people on bikes whether it's the middle of the day or late evening or sometimes even in the middle of the night at 2 or 3 a.m.," Batterson said. "It's a lot more difficult for people committing crimes to see police officers on bikes."
Lt. Chris Roush, with the Marshalltown Police Department, said bicycle cops have been out several times this season.
"We are out there," Roush said. "If you don't see us we're still out there. There's only a few days that go by at a time when there isn't somebody out there."
On a bike, Roush said police can get anywhere in Marshalltown in about 10 minutes.
"If we have a call of people doing weird things or some kind of disturbance, I would roll through the area first, because you can't hear it," Roush said. "People hear cars, they see headlights, they take off."
The bike police also patrol the trails.
"We try to focus on making sure people see us on the bike paths," Roush said. "We want to make sure people feel secure while they are jogging and those kind of things in those areas."
With patrolling, Roush said police on bicycles have a great public relations aspect.
"If people see us on a bike come up, say 'hi,'" Roush said. "Don't be afraid to talk to us, that's why they're out there. It's one of the added bonuses of being on a bike, you're not surrounded by that 2,000 pound steal and glass that might keep you away."
The children however, love the police on bikes, Roush said.
"If we see a youngster riding a bike and they're wearing a helmet, using hand signals, stopping at signals, we can write out their name and give them the citation for a free Dairy Queen small blizzard," Roush said. "There are kids that will go out and put on their helmets and make circles waiting for cops to come."
According to Roush, several Dairy Queen citations have been handed out this season.
Usually no more than a few bike cops will be deployed, Roush said, however for special events there can be up to six, with a mix of officers not on bikes.
The special events include Fourth of July, Oktemberfest and the BBQ Championship.
"It puts a burden on our department as far as staffing it," Batterson said. "We have to work creatively to staff these events by trying not to use too much tax payer dollars."
If someone is going to a summer event Batterson said people need to have patience when they are trying to get there.
"They should exercise caution because at summer events there are a lot of people driving and there is a lot of traffic and bicycle traffic," Batterson said. "When people go to these events they should get there as safely as possible so they can enjoy their time there."