By Jessica Skaggs
The college is hoping to have campus officers patrolling on bicycles before next fall. Prior to becoming a police department, the security of the college was the responsibility of the Department of Public Safety, who at the time included a bike patrol. Those bikes were purchased in 1995.
“Dr. Sopcich wanted to resurrect what he had before, so in actuality, you give him credit as to bringing it to the forefront,” Interim police chief Gregory Russell said. “He made it known to us that we should look at it as one of the ways to better serve the college, so that is what we did.”
Steps are already being taken by the police department. Following the recommendation to Executive Vice President of Finance and Administrative Service Barbara Larson, the department has sought out training opportunities for officers.
“It was a proposal brought forward from Chief Russell and the police department,” Larson said. “That was apparently under discussion for some time, and so I was very supportive of it.”
The bikes will be able to save the college money and help the environment.
“It’s within our budget, it’s not an extra cost,” Russell said. “As a matter of fact, when you look at the use of the bicycle, comparing it to the use of the vehicle, it’s an actual tremendous savings for the college. Plus when you think of the state of going green, a bicycle will put nothing out into the atmosphere that would be harmful. It’s a benefit all the way around.”
Officer Ryan Futrell will be trained in Emporia, receive his bike certification, and then become certified to train other officers on the bicycles. Russell said officers are excited about this new opportunity.
“They can get through the campus more easily and readily as opposed to a police vehicle,” Russell said. “How good would it be when you have summertime and you have a bike patrol officer that will be able to visit with students out here in the courtyard and just have a conversation? Not only about the career itself, but I just think it allows students to see we have another way of getting around and to get to them a lot quicker.”
Russell is personally looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the bike patrol.
“I plan to participate in that training myself, so whenever the time permits and the condition permits, I will also be part of that bike patrol to make myself accessible to the students,” Russell said. “ We would like to let everyone know that we are approachable and getting away from the old tradition of police being shut off from the college community. We’re very, very much approachable.”
Time will tell if students feel the same way.
“That’s funny,” student Katie Anderson said. “I guess hipsters aren’t the only ones hopping on the bike riding bandwagon.”
Larson is confident in the potential benefits the bike patrol offers.
“I think it can improve response time,” Larson said. “Certainly the research about community policing shows that officers are more approachable when they’re on bicycles and available than they may be in a traditional vehicle. So we’re really excited because it’s one other tool that we have to keep the campus safe.”
Contact Jessica Skaggs, managing editor, at jskaggs4@jccc.edu.