Police Patrol on Bikes

OHIO STATE POLICE BAG BURGLARS BY BIKES

     COLUMBUS -- The fitness cops may never be confused with the
fashion police, but chasing crooks on bicycles is quickly
becoming de rigueur at The Ohio State University.

     A dozen university police officers patrol campus on bikes on
a regular basis, outfitted with special uniforms and lightweight
gear designed for two-wheel tours of duty.

     "I ride as much as I can; it's great," said Marc Mattmiller,
who with fellow police officer Mike Blankenship founded the
patrol in 1991. "I like it more than being in a cruiser. There's
a lot more contact with people."

     Snow, ice and bitter cold are about the only deterrents.
Mattmiller acknowledged that warmth takes priority over
appearance as officers apply layer upon layer of clothing to
brave the recent cold.

     Officers say people talk to police more when they're out
walking or riding bicycles, too.  Officers tend to be isolated
and not as approachable when they are driving patrol cars.

     "It gets the officers out of that 'hard candy shell' of the
police car and out among the people," said Chief Ron Michalec.

     "There's a different level of contact," Mattmiller said.
"People talk to you more as an individual. They're doing
something you're doing, too."

     Bicycles offer more mobility.

     "I get around as well as a cruiser," Mattmiller said.
"Sometimes it takes a little longer, but sometimes I can get
there quicker."

     Quickness, quietness and access have made the bicycle the
difference in apprehension of several criminals, Michalec noted.

     "You're talking about a vehicle that can move through very
cramped spaces and through large numbers of people on campus.
They can move through the crowd quickly where large cars can't,"
Michalec said.

     "And at night, there is the stealth factor.  It's quiet.
You can turn your lights and flashers on and not make a sound."

     Michalec said bicycle cops surprise crooks.

     "Some criminals we apprehend complain that we have an unfair
advantage.  You can't generally outrun a bike, and generally the
officer can be on them before they know what happened.
Considering most crimes are committed on foot now and not in a
car, the bicycle is probably the best mode of transportation."

     University Police haven't compiled many statistics on the
patrol, but Michalec said the bikes have been effective.

     In addition to better campus community relations and quicker
apprehension, the patrol has improved physical fitness in
officers and saved in automobile expenses.

     University Police began their program with six bikes the
court released from the property room.  Officers raised $5,000 to
purchase 15 bicycles and outfit them with police equipment, using
money donated by BikeSource, American Youth Hostels, the Skilken
Foundation and other sources.

     Bicycle patrol is voluntary, but police officers like it.
They even do their own maintenance.  Mattmiller said he can cover
more ground on a bike without getting exhausted.

     "I've put in 20 or 30 miles or more some days, and I feel
comfortable at the end of the day."

     Michalec said that the bicycle patrol helped reduce monthly
department gasoline bills from $2,000 to about $800.

     Now the Undergraduate Student Government's Crime Watch, the
Community Crime Patrol and the Columbus Police Department are
using bikes on some beats.  Other departments have expressed an
interest.

                                #

Contact:  Ron Michalec or Marc Mattmiller, (614) 292-2121.

Written by Tom Spring.


[Submitted by: REIDV  (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Wed, 23 Feb 1994 08:59:38 -0500 (EST)]
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