Painesville Police Department to implement bicycle patrol
By Tawana Roberts, The News-Herald, May 6, 2017
Painesville OH -- Painesville Police Department will soon hit the streets with a new set of wheels.
Chief Anthony Powalie announced that the department will assign two officers to a bicycle patrol unit.
Implementing a bike patrol in the city has been one of Powalie’s goals.
“We’re trying to grow our police department and we’re trying to grow the city as a whole,” he said.
Despite not being selected for a grant that the department applied for, the community supported the project.
Powalie said Bella Donna Salon & Spa owner Mary Jo Miller raised $400 through fundraising.
“Based on donations from the community, we were able to purchase two bikes that are fully equipped for officers,” he said.
Although Painesville will start with two bike patrolmen, Powalie said he hopes to purchase two more bikes because other officers have expressed interest.
There are many benefits to starting a bike patrol.
“It is important for us to be more involved in the community by getting out of the car and interacting with residents and visitors,” he said. “It will also be good for them (officers) to be able to identify people with mental health issues. Being visible in the community will also help deter crime.”
According to a study conducted by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, findings suggest that bicycle patrols are superior to automobile patrols in providing interaction with both pedestrians and people in motor vehicles. Bicycle patrols were also more likely to observe illicit activities or situations in which people needed help, as bicycle officers were better able to see, hear, and even smell what was happening in their vicinity.
The Painesville officers that will participate in the bike patrol are scheduled to undergo training. They will patrol various areas throughout the city from spring to fall, Powalie said.
“I think it’s a great thing,” he said. “We never had a bike patrol in Painesville, so it is exciting to be the first chief to introduce it.”