Published: November 03, 2009 03:36 pm      

Avon police use new tactics to patrol parks, neighborhoods

AVON — With the parks in Avon expanding, the police force here was looking for alternative methods to patrol them.

That’s where Officer Ryan Grismore comes in. He now splits his street time duties between patrolling in a squad car and patrolling on a police bicycle.

“Seeing the increased usage of the park by the citizens of Avon, we felt (a bike patrol) would be a responsible thing to do,” Avon Police Chief Jack Miller said. “Having a police presence in the parks was rather difficult before the bike. There really weren’t financial resources to use a motorized vehicle like a quad or something like that.”

Seeing this, Avon Assistant Police Chief Bill Weems approached Avon Director of Public Works Ryan Cannon and asked if he had any funds to use for a bike patrol to use in the parks. After doing some research, Cannon found the money.

“Ryan (Grismore) also approached us and he had everything priced out,” Weems said. “He came up to my office after he heard we were considering doing a bike program. He did all the research and told us what we needed. He was all fired up about it.”

Grismore said it gives the community, as well as himself, several opportunities.

“I think that it’s good for me personally with personal fitness goals,” Grismore said. “Most importantly, it’s good for the community to put somebody in the park, which is expanding year by year, if not day by day. It gives us a presence in the park and hopefully we can curve crime.”

Grismore said it also gives him a different way to interact with the public.

“So far, the reaction from the public has been positive,” he said. “I’ve been through a few neighborhoods and the parks. After the initial curiosity wears off and people find out what you’re doing, I think you’re more apt to find information from people or they’re more apt to approach you if you aren’t in the confines of the squad car.”

The bike patrol has been in service for about two months and Miller said he’s heard only positive remarks.

“We have had some positive feedback, mainly from other town employees who know that we have the bicycle patrol,” Miller said. “They go out and use the park and see (Grismore) out on the bike. They will make a comment to (Weems) or I that they saw the bicycle officer out there and it looked good.”

His first day on the bike, Grismore said, allowed him to witness something that he might not have seen had he been in a marked police car.

“I was sitting in a neighborhood and I observed several people running a stop sign,” Grismore said. “The bike is equipped with full emergency equipment, so I stopped the car and issued a citation.”

During the winter months, Grismore will return to his squad car.



ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com