A moment of inspiration will bear fruit this weekend at Pirate Daze as the Westport Police Department rolls out police bike operations, with several officers and Chief Nate Saunders certified to serve the community on two wheels.
Police on bikes are more accessible to community members in a way that an officer in a patrol car isn’t, Saunders said.
“As a department they’re gonna be bridging the gap between citizens and police as bike versus patrol car,” Saunders said. “The patrol car is kind of a barrier sometimes.”
Being closer to residents will help officers to serve the community better, said Officer Jamie Ancich, one of the officers who went through the training.
“You can do better community policing. You can do some more proactive work,” Ancich said. “For the community-oriented policing, you’re out there, you’re talking, you’re socializing with everybody.”
Bikes are also a more discreet option than a patrol car as officers attempt to prevent crimes of opportunity such as burglary or vehicle riflings, Ancich said.
“You can see people not wearing their seatbelts, or using electronic devices while they’re driving their car,” Ancich said. “You’re also going by, making sure people’s doors aren’t left open, committing crimes of opportunity like burglary or car prowling.”
The idea came from previous experience as an officer operating on a bike, Saunders said.
“Probably the first part of the year I brought it to the city’s attention that I wanted to do it,” Saunders said. “I’m bike certified as well. I’ve done bike patrol in the past. It’s a good, effective tool.”
Purchasing the bikes came out of the department’s budget, Ancich said. Asked if she wanted to take part in the program due to her hobby of mountain bike racing, Ancich went to Seattle in late May for the 40-hour training course.
“Bikes about $1,000 apiece and the training — I don’t believe the training cost us,” Saunders said. “Then they’re certified. They’re nationally certified now.”
Training involved a lot of learning to ride in crowded and built-up areas, Ancich said.
“We did some riding, learning how to stop, learning how to powerslide, how to mount, dismount, how to dismount into a chase if a suspect is fleeing or fighting,” Ancich said. “Lotta cones.”
Learning to go down stairs was pretty fun, Ancich said. Her bike was sourced locally at La Vogue Cyclery in Hoquiam.
“You want a good quality bike that has good quality components,” Ancich said. “It has good components, better shocks and brakes.”
While Ancich or another officer is on bike patrol duty, there will always be another officer in their patrol car to respond to emergencies, Ancich said. With herself, Saunders and Sgt. Trevor Burnham all certified, it gives the department some flexibility for scheduling. Officers on bike patrol will tend to operate around the harbor and mostly during the summer, Ancich said.
“I imagine we’ll probably use it a little bit in the winter as well but more geared toward the summer,” Ancich said.
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
Officer Jamie Ancich of the Westport Police Department poses in front of a low-speed course during bike patrol training in Seattle. (Courtesy photo / WPD)
The Westport Police Department is starting a bike patrol program for the summer months to operate closer to the community. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
