Would you like to see the police utilize bicycle patrols more often? Are you concerned about how the PPB handles marches and protests? The City of Portland and the Portland Police Bureau is forming a new group of citizens to provide input into their training programs. Since there are many ways bicycling intersects with police training, this might be something worth considering for some of you.
Check out more information from the official announcement below…
“The Training Advisory Council will provide ongoing advice to the Chief of Police on its efforts to continuously improve training standards, practices, and outcomes by examining training content, delivery, tactics, policy, tools, equipment and facility use…
The Police Bureau Training Division is a crucial piece of our public safety strategy for the City of Portland. Our Training Division protocols and process both outfit officers with the tools they need to keep our city safe and healthy, and also reflect the values of our community. We are one of the first jurisdictions in the country to establish a Training Advisory Council of citizens to increase accountability for police training and to provide recommendations to the Chief of Police…”
I’m a bit late posting this, so you have only until August 31st to fill out and complete the application form. Download the PDF here.
they definitely need to use bikes more often… at Sunday Parkways SE there was a motorcycle cop driving the course… it’s supposed to be closed to motor-vehicles but the PPD must be immune… the motorcycle was not friendly or approachable and gave a bad vibe to the area it was in… it was more like RoboCop on patrol… a couple of bicycle cops would have been awesome PR for them, but they blew their chance…
” the motorcycle was not friendly or approachable and gave a bad vibe to the area it was in… it was more like RoboCop on patrol”
I completely agree. The black face shield (tinted windows for motorcycle helmet) obscuring the cop’s face made for a needlessly creepy interaction. Who approves these things?
I couldn’t make last Sunday’s Parkway ride but at the first three this year I had friendly ‘smile-and-wave’ interactions with m/c cops riding on the route. I don’t recall the visor; seems like I could see their faces. They all rode super-slow, not at all scary or startling. I was glad to know they were nearby for any altercations as occasionally happen at intersections.
That said, yeah, bicycle cops would be cool and arguably fit into the scene better, good PR, etc.
their memo is undated… how long has it been out? seems like they would have given more than a 3-day notice…
In Madison, Wis. we established a bike patrol back in the late 70s — even had cops on roller skates! But how does a police department improve? For insight and direction on this and other important police improvement issues, take a look at “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com in US and EU). And the blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/ where other current police improvement issues are discussed. Good luck and may we all experience not just good but great policing! Great policing is accomplished by police who are well-trained and led, restrained in their use of force, honest, and courteous to every citizen.