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EDITORIAL: Bicycle police: Good idea in neighborhoods
Sep 16, 2009 (El Paso Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
El Paso police officers riding bicycles are making a good effort to interact with the proverbial man on the street, and that means it's a good chance to interact with the officers. That's how it's supposed to work in a community.
Good things seem to be happening as police officers pedal Northeast neighborhoods on bicycles, instead of riding in cruisers on the roadways.
This has been working Downtown for several years. As one example, bicycles make it easier for officers to be on scenes almost immediately -- not necessarily with an in-your-face attitude, but right there with you.
In the Northeast, an area troubled by gangs in certain neighborhoods, bicycle-riding officers patrol not only parks and business areas, but they have a physical presence on corners where drugs would be dealt. Bikes make turfs their turfs, too.
Rick Armendariz directs the recreation center at Veterans Park. "When we see them (bike officers) out there, we wave and say 'How you doing?' It's good to see them. It sets a good example."
In the 44-acre park, the officers' presence has been deterring usual park concerns such as fighting, marijuana smoking and mischief.
It's also good for residents of the infamous Devil's Triangle, where gangster activities have long been a problem.
There are 11 officers working Northeast on bikes, covering three shifts.
Now there are bike teams in the Pebble Hills Regional Command on the East Side.
Wave. Say hi to a bicycle officer.
To see more of the El Paso Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.elpasotimes.com. Copyright (c) 2009, El Paso Times, Texas Distributed
by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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