Wyandotte bike patrol officer makes community connections while fighting crime
By JIM KASUBA, News-Herald, June 25, 2021
Photo: One of officer Daniel Cole’s duties is to patrol the city’s downtown area, where he regularly checks on businesses. Photo courtesy of Wyandotte Police Department.
WYANDOTTE MI - For the first time ever, the Wyandotte Police Department has assigned an officer to bike patrol on a full-time basis and the officer chosen for the job appears to be the perfect fit.
Officer Daniel Cole’s primary function is to patrol the downtown area. One of the goals of this new initiative is to allow the Police Department to enhance its collaboration with business owners and residents.
“Having a bike officer will help deter crime, promote safety and reduce the fear of crime, said Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton. “It is our goal to make the city of Wyandotte a more inviting place for all who visit and patronize our city. Therefore, our department’s preferred method of gaining compliance is education, not ticketing.”
Although restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the implementation of the Downtown Wyandotte Social District, it’s now in full swing.
Social districts, created by state law, permit a local governing body to designate a district to create an area in which businesses may service the public beyond their licensed establishments.
Bars with liquor licenses may sell drinks on their own premises, to customers who are allowed to drink them within the common outdoor service area of the district.
“Officer Cole’s main objective regarding the social district is to ensure safety, provide assistance when necessary, and help educate citizens on the guidelines of the district,” Hamilton said. “We want everyone who visits our social district to feel safe, be informed, and, most importantly, to have fun! Officer Cole is committed to making sure those objectives are achieved.”
Hamilton described Cole as a community-minded officer who is approachable and understanding.
Cole, 32, is relatively new not only to the Police Department, but to the state of Michigan. Prior to moving here, he was hired as an officer with the Carrollton Police Department in 2011 and worked there for about eight years. Carrollton is a city in northwest Georgia, about 45 miles west of Atlanta, near the Alabama state line.
The Carrollton Police Department had about 75 sworn officers. As a comparison, Wyandotte has about 35 sworn officers.
Cole and his wife, both Georgia natives, were looking for a change of scenery.
“My wife and I were looking for a new adventure in life, so we wanted to try something new and different,” Cole said.
With so many jobs open in law enforcement these days, Cole said he had many options available to him, but he saw a job opening in Wyandotte as one of his best opportunities. He was hired by the department in August 2019. As for his wife, she landed a teaching position in the area.
Back in Carrollton, Cole was sergeant of the bicycle patrol, where he supervised several officers in that division.
He said that police administration in Wyandotte was aware of his background and skill set. Once he started working at the department, he noticed a couple of police bikes that weren’t being used.
“I said that I didn’t mind taking these out, and they were excited about it,” Cole said. “The deputy chief said they wanted to move ahead with a full-time assignment, so I expressed interest.”
Although the Wyandotte Police Department has utilized bicycle officers in the past, it was in a very limited capacity. Cole said that because the department had sufficient manpower, it allowed him to concentrate his efforts on the downtown area.
His first official day on bike patrol was May 24, but he’ll be riding throughout the year, whenever it is safe to do so, depending on the weather conditions.
The very nature of a bike patrol officer makes it easier for him to interact with residents more frequently, and on a personal level. He also makes frequent stops to downtown businesses.
“An officer on a bike is a lot more approachable than an officer in a car,” he said.
His Cannondale bicycle is especially equipped for police, with a working siren and emergency lights. Hydration is important during the warm summer months, so water is always handy, as is a bicycle repair kit should quick repairs be required.
He also carries some pretty cool “swag,” for lack of a better word, especially for children he encounters. In his interactions with kids, Cole said he often passes out items like small plastic badges and Wyandotte tattoos. And for children he notices who are wearing helmets, they can earn a token.
As for businesses, many probably have already received ink pens he has given away.
Because the social district is still so new, Cole gets questions about it from time to time, including when it’s in effect (currently from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Although some people have expressed concerns that the social district will encourage rowdy behavior, he said so far that hasn’t been an issue.
He also has found that families with younger children enjoy introducing their kids to a police officer.
“It’s a great tool for education,” he said.
Cole has all the equipment and resources available to officers in patrol vehicles, and when enforcement action needs to be taken, he acts accordingly. However, his emphasis is on crime prevention, patrolling the downtown area and parks, and being available to assist those who need his help.
“I’m excited about this program,” he said. “The city is going to benefit. I’m looking forward to making good community connections. We want to encourage people to come to Wyandotte, utilize the shops and to feel safe doing so.”