Valley police use 2-wheeled rides to save money, gas

Special to The Vindicator

Photo

SMART SOLUTION: Russ Beatty, Poland Village police chief, rides one of the department's two Harley Davidson motorcycles, which were purchased with seized drug money. Some police agencies are using motorcycles and bicyclees to save money and gain an advantage over criminals. Two-wheeled options save fuel, and the initial equipment costs are lower than equipping a police car.

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Local police departments are using two wheels instead of four to save money and gain an advantage over criminals.

“The price of fuel is killing us,” said Russ Beatty, Poland village police chief. “We’ve already had to make adjustments in our budget for the rising prices.”

In some communities, including Poland, the solution to saving money — while still offering the same level of service — is to have more officers patrol on motorcycles and bicycles.

The Poland village police department has two Harley Davidson motorcycles, which were purchased with seized drug money, and one bicycle.

“I’m planning to have a motorcycle training session soon, so more of our guys can be licensed,” Beatty said. “Eventually, I’d like to have a motorcycle and car on every shift, instead of two cars. It really does help to save money.”

At least one cruiser has to be on patrol so arrested suspects can be transported, he said.

Poland village’s size makes it possible for bicycles to be utilized, and in Canfield, police have had a bicycle patrol for nine years.

“We have four bicycles and five officers who use them from May to late October,” said Sgt. Cristobal Ruiz. “The bikes are attached to the back of patrol cars and are used to supplement the cruisers.”

Bicycles save fuel and the initial equipment costs are lower — about $1,200 — than the $25,000 needed to equip a car, he said.

“The advantages are greater than the disadvantages,” Ruiz said. “At night, criminals can easily hear and see a cruiser, but with the bikes, we have a stealth advantage. We’ve used them to stop potential car thefts in parking lots.”

He added though it might take an officer on a bicycle longer to get back to his car to respond to an emergency, the bicycles get officers into places the cruisers can’t, such as the Mill Creek MetroParks bike trail and events with large crowds, such as the Canfield Fair.

Struthers police recently added a bicycle to its patrol fleet, and there are plans to expand the program to include more officers, said Robert Norris, Struthers city police chief.

“When we decided to do this, fuel costs were an obvious consideration,” he said. “We’re already above our yearly budget for gas.”

The bicycle will be kept on the back of Patrolman Jonathan Tracy’s cruiser, in the same system utilized by Canfield Police.

Poland village, Canfield and Struthers are not the only police departments using two wheels instead of four; the Youngstown Police Department also patrols with motorcycles.

“In a bigger city, the officers can go find a better parking place to work a crowd or gathering,” said YPD Chief Jimmy Hughes. “It’s more efficient than an automobile would be.”

Motorcycle use is dependent on the weather, which limits the use of the bikes in the Valley.

“I doubt that [motorcycles and bicycles] would ever replace cruisers here, but for a short time, they can work,” he said.