Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com
Published - Monday, August 18, 2008
Police Department revives Bike Patrol program
For the past month, the Tomah Police Department has been reviving its bike patrol program. The department has conducted bike patrols for several years, but the program had become inconsistent due to staff numbers and other factors. Over the past few weeks, officers on bicycles have become a more familiar sight in Tomah, and Police Chief Wes Revels said the revival of the program will help the department in several ways.
“We really want to accomplish a few things,” Revels said of the bike patrol. “It will help with the cost of fuel, and more importantly, it will allow officers a better opportunity for more and longer contacts with people in the city of Tomah.”
Sgt. Scott Holum has helped boost the bike patrol, and said that from spring through fall, it can be a useful tool. He said that the patrol is handled at a shift level, and it helps to pay special attention to specific areas of town.
“We can focus on certain areas, like the downtown area,” Holum said. “In certain neighborhoods we pay extra attention. We have spent some time in the Grandview (Street) area during their project up there.”
Holum said that six officers have expressed interest in performing bike patrols. Officer Paul Sloan has been going on bike patrols for several years, and he said that it provides opportunities to make more contacts with members of the public.
“Just this morning, I had contact with people, had two damage to property complaints and some traffic issues,” Sloan said. “The public reaction is positive. People will wave and flag you down.”
Revels hopes that the public makes contact with the officers on bike patrol. He said that he would like to see the public inform officers of incidents in the community, and to stop and talk with them.
“This coincides with many changes that I want to see occur here,” Revels said. “We want to take on issues from a problem-solving perspective.”
There is also no cost for the bike patrol. The bicycles have been with the police department for years, so Revels said that it was just a matter of utilizing the program.
Staffing numbers were a factor in the inconsistency of the program in years past, but the department has decided to utilize it when they can, at all hours of the day.
Holum said that the bike patrol was used, and effective, during a string of burglaries roughly four years ago.
He stealth capability of using bicycles can be a benefit. He also said that there are bike racks on patrol cars should officers need to respond to an incident.
Benefits aside, part of the bike patrol for many officers is the enjoyment of leaving the patrol car, meeting people, and getting some fresh air in the process.
“It’s great,” Sloan said. “We get to get out and talk to people, exercise and enjoy the weather. It is a benefit for everybody.”
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