Deputies fight crime with two-wheeled weapons

October 14, 2009

By Cherry Sokoloski

The Wellington

 

Wellington (Colorado) is going into high gear to catch criminals. The new weapons are better than Berettas — they’re bicycles.

Deputies Matt Cherry and Harvey Hildreth, who share night-shift patrol duties, have been using the new Cannondales for about a month, and they’re happy with results so far. They plan to do bicycle patrol 12 months a year, provided the snow doesn’t get too deep.

There’s a two-fold purpose for getting deputies out of their patrol cars and onto two wheels: better communication with residents, and the ability to stop crimes in progress. To serve the latter purpose, the new bicycles have silent hubs. Criminals will not be able to hear that distinctive little click-click sound.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department, with whom Wellington contracts for police services, didn’t have money in the budget for the patrol bicycles, so Wellington came up with the necessary funds. Cost of the two bicycles together, fully equipped for police work, came to $3,000. The Cannondales are LE1 models, specifically built for police officers.

Cherry explained that the bicycles are made for the “rigors of law enforcement.” They sport a “beefier suspension” than other bikes and also have features that are familiar to law enforcement rides: flashing lights and sirens. A full-size rack bag holds bike tools, police forms and stickers to hand out to local children.

The two officers say they have already noticed a difference in their interactions with Wellington teens. The young people are “more willing to talk and ask questions,” Hildreth said, since the bicycles are less intimidating than squad cars. When seeking information, the deputies are able to ride up to people in a personal, non-threatening manner.

A bicycle can be especially helpful in building trust with children, since they are often interested in the special law enforcement equipment like the lights and siren.

Hildreth and Cherry hope that being on bicycles will encourage people to approach them if they need help, or if they have information about suspicious activities.

The new wheels have some big advantages when it comes to stopping crimes. As Cherry explained, they allow for a level of stealth that’s not possible with a squad car. For example, he said, Wellington has had its share of vehicle trespass cases. With a squad car, “they can see us coming,” he noted. A bike, on the other hand, “turns that around and gives us the advantage.” The officer can approach the perpetrator without being noticed.

Sgt. Cindy Gordon said that advantage will enable officers to stop more crimes in progress.

Another benefit is a bicycle’s mobility. An officer on bicycle patrol can travel through crowds, yards, parks and alleys. During festivals and special events, a bicycle patrol is an excellent tool for crowd control. If something occurs, the officer can quickly get on his bike and cover more distance than if he were on foot.

In some cases, officers on bicycle patrol will also be able to get to calls more quickly.

The two deputies agree that when they’re on their bicycles, they see and hear much more than they do in patrol cars. “We’re getting to know the town and the people better,” Hildreth commented.

And then, of course, there’s the green factor. The Wellington deputies won’t be stopping at gas stations nearly as often. In a time of belt-tightening budgets, that’s good news for Wellington and the sheriff’s department.