Police Department 'goes green' with summer bike patrol

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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	July, 2009	Return to newsletter index

The Saco Police Department is always searching for new ways to interact with the community it serves. In another example of that philosophy, Chief Brad Paul announced plans recently to have officers patrol the downtown and Camp Ellis area on bicycles this summer. Outfitted with bicycles purchased from Quinn's Bicycle in Biddeford, Officers will don cargo shorts, polo shirts and safety helmets to get a look at Saco from outside the confines of a police cruiser. Long considered a staple in Old Orchard Beach, bicycles have never been part of Saco's crime-fighting approach. Saco's geography was one of the reasons why. Much larger than Old Orchard Beach, Saco's downtown is much more extensive. Saco also lacks a central location where thousands of pedestrians are apt to gravitate to, unless for a special event.

A common observation from citizens is that they don't know the officers serving them in the police department. Chief Paul notes that it is easy to be shut off from the community you serve. "Officers often respond from one call to the next. The radio is busy, the MDT (mobile display terminal or laptop) is streaming information, and you are constantly on the lookout for problems. The outside temperature is climbing, and the heat generated by your vest adds to the officer's discomfort. The cruiser windows are closed to minimize distractions and keep the car cool, effectively isolating the officer from the outside. Bicycle patrols address some of those issues. They're a good way to keep things interesting for officers, and Saco benefits because officers are much more approachable. It's a plus all the way around."

Given tight economic times, it wasn't possible to schedule officers to be on the bicycles constantly throughout the summer, but supervisors will use them whenever possible, policing Camp Ellis and Seaside Avenue, the Eastern Trail, and the downtown area and shopping centers. If the program is received well you may see more of it in the coming years. And what better way to symbolize Saco's commitment to green technology than to employ the ultimate gas-saver? While not as versatile as a fully-equipped police cruiser (at $24,000 and 15 mpg) the bicycles (at $450 and unlimited mpg) are a very attractive alternative that mesh with the City's overall philosophy of pursuing environmentally sound, sustainable practices.