Cycle patrols continue in the city

Don?t be surprised if you see a cyclist in Washington dressed in a police uniform. The Washington Police Department has operated a bike patrol since the mid-1990s, and has become more visible this summer as more officers have had time to devote to the patrol.

Washington Police Chief Greg Goodman said police officers in other towns work full-time on a bike patrol and patrol on their cycle year-round. Washington does not have a full-time bike patrol officer. He said three to four officers do the bike patrol when they can.

?It?s a good way to get around and see a lot of things,? Goodman said. ?You can move quickly and quietly. You can sit back and watch something before quietly rolling into the area.?

Goodman said that biking fosters a more social atmosphere between officers and the public because a biker is more likely to stop and chat with a person. At the same time, the police have often used their bike patrol after dark because it is a good way to move around without being noticed.

?When they?re riding at night, they may have the lights on their bike turned on,? he said. ?Other times, they will turn them off if they?re trying to be covert and listen and watch a suspicious situation. You can observe traffic violations and arrest someone for OWI (Operating While Intoxicated). They are all kinds of things you can do on a bicycle.?

There is a bike patrol school where officers are trained in how to pursue a suspect and make an arrest while on a bike. They learn how to bike over obstacles and how to take a bike upstairs and downstairs. Some departments put special lights on their bicycles that flash when an officer is in pursuit. Goodman said Washington does not have such lights.

?The Marion Police Department showed up to Hawkeye games with computers on their bikes,? he said. ?They have laptop-style computers that fit on the handlebars. I was surprised to see that.?

While bikes have clear advantages over walking, they are still slower than cars, which is why Goodman is reluctant to send his officers on a bike patrol when he is short-staffed. However, the Washington Police Department expanded to 11 full-time officers last year, which has allowed more officers to travel on two wheels instead of four.

The officers wear special uniforms when they cycle. Their shirts are black and blue and are reflective. Goodman said the heavy belt officers wear is uncomfortable on a bike, which is why they have separate belts to wear on bikes which are a little smaller. He said the belt adds several pounds.

Bike patrols are ideal for events where there are many pedestrians, because that allows the police to cover a large area while maintaining contact with the public. Some police departments, namely Des Moines and Waterloo, use horses in those situations.

?The people like to see the officers out and they like to talk with them,? he said. ?It?s pretty well known as an effective program. I think it?s a good program. When our guys can do it, they enjoy doing it, and they?ve been getting out quite a bit lately.?