Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310646
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"There's something non-threatening about a police officer on a bike," Portsmouth police Sgt. Ken Teller said. "People go out of their way to give us a smile and tell us they appreciate what we're doing."
"The bikes really cut down on the time it takes to find lost children because we can get up We can get right up on top of the bad guys before they know we are there Ken Teller Portsmouth police officer and down the boardwalk a lot quicker to look for them," said Jerry Cale, a Virginia Beach field training officer.
Virginia Beach Patrolman Benjamin Gonse said tourists - "especially the girls" - also want to get their picture taken with the bike police.
The assignment also has a health benefit, he said.
"It'll definitely get you in shape," he said. "I've already taken my belt up a notch."
About two weeks ago, each department obtained four knobby-tired mountain bikes to begin the pedal police programs, which function differently in each city because of separate terrain and law-enforcement problems.
The bike patrol officers are equipped like any beat officer with a nightstick, gun and radio. But they wear helmets and shorts.
"The bicycle makes the officer more mobile than a foot patrolman, and we have certain areas inaccessible to vehicles - the beach and the boardwalk, for example," said Virginia Beach police Lt. F.R. Scarborough.
Weekends in the resort city can mean tourist-clogged streets, making maneuverability the bike squad's biggest asset.
Last week, the eight-man Portsmouth squad made 18 arrests, recovered $350 in stolen goods and seized $900 worth of drugs and paraphernalia, Teller said.
by CNB