Bike Patrol Rolls In South Bloomfield

6/2/2008 10:00:00 AM

Sgt. Robert Dauberman heads out to patrol the streets of South Bloomfield as part of the police department’s new bike patrol.
Bike patrol rolls in South Bloomfield

Trish Bennett

With the support of private donors and a little help from officers themselves, the police bike patrol is now officially rolling through the streets of South Bloomfield.

"In just one patrol, I've had more contact with people than I have in six months inside a cruiser," said Sgt. Robert Dauberman, South Bloomfield Police. "The community interaction from this is way higher than it is in a patrol car."

That public interaction, though, is just one part of the patrol's overall goal, according to Chief Ken McCoy. It has also proven itself an effective deterrent to crime in just a few days on the road.

"We've already seen a decrease in the number of drive-offs at the gas stations," McCoy said. "People really think twice when you've got a police officer right there circling the parking lot."

Dauberman said the patrol has also taken strides in public safety in a very short time, an accomplishment he finds highly rewarding.

"There have been a couple of times already when kids on bikes have blown through a stop sign or something and nearly got hit," he said. "We've actually pulled them over and been able to teach them some things about bike safety on the road. We were there so fast, and they didn't see us until we were right on top of them. I'm pretty sure they won't be making those mistakes again."

These multiple benefits came at no expense to the village, McCoy said. The bikes, equipment and transport racks for the cruisers were paid through donations of private citizens as well as officers within the department.

Dauberman, along with officers Kristopher Kersbergen and Stephanie Habecker, also paid their own way to complete an intensive training course for the program that covered everything from basic riding safety to traversing common obstacles and pursuing suspects.

"It's been a really successful program so far, but this is just the beginning," McCoy said.

The South Bloomfield bike patrol will participate in the Groveport Cops & Kids Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 7330 Groveport Road. More information can be found on the department's Web site at www.southbloomfieldpolice.com.

The unit is also firming up plans to host bike rodeo events throughout Pickaway County, including the Old Village Days community festival that begins Aug. 6.