Police use pedal-power to curb crime

Staff photo by Nick Graham Philip Salm of the Middletown Division of Police patrols the streets and alleys of downtown Middletown by bicycle during his shift Monday, July 13.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Cops on bikes patrol downtown

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By Danielle Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 12:25 AM Wednesday, July 15, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Criminals beware. Middletown cops have bikes and they know how to use them.

For the past month, the Middletown Division of Police has dedicated officers to a bike patrol to curb downtown crime. The team of three officers work all hours looking for illegal or suspicious activity.

“Not only are arrests being made, but crimes are being deterred by their presence,” Maj. David VanArsdale said of the officers.

At least six arrests and several court summons have been made for drug, alcohol and other violations as of Monday, July 13, he said.

Driving prostitution from the area has been a top priority for the department this year. The department in April arrested 20 men and women in connection with soliciting for sex through an ongoing sting operation.

Sgt. Jim Cunningham on the bike patrol this summer said several prostitution arrests have resulted from the patrols.

“We’ve addressed that pretty assertively,” Cunningham said.

An all-summer bike patrol operation has been out of the question for the past few years because of low manpower in the department, according to VanArsdale.

Normally a school resource officer at Middletown High School, officer Phil Salm, works the bike detail when students are released for summer break. He said last year the department could have officers on bikes for only a few weeks.

Most times, officers are assigned instead to regular patrol jobs in cruisers to have more of an impact, according to VanArsdale.

Retirements or illnesses have cost the department positions, Chief Greg Schwarber has said.

“We’re doing everything we can do with the resources we have,” VanArsdale said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwilson@coxohio.com.

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