Pedal patrol

City officers again hop on bicycles in community policing effort

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

Like many people in Burlington, Bill Rice and Brian Zmudzinski enjoy riding their bikes.

Unlike many people in Burlington, Officer Rice and Sergeant Zmudzinski are paid to do it – as part of the City of Burlington Police Department’s bike patrol.

While a bike patrol in the City of Burlington isn’t exactly a new thing – it began in the late 1990s – the new incarnation began in earnest this summer. Until then, the bike patrols were out at special events, like ChocolateFest.

But really, Rice is one of the driving forces in getting the program back on the road, so to speak.

“Bill’s really been our big push,” said Zmudzinski. “He’s typically the one you’ll see on our second shift on the bike.”

There are several benefits to having the bike patrol out in the City, and prime among them is the ability to be more interactive with residents.

“The unit’s a lot more approachable on bikes than they would be in squads,” said Zmudzinski.

Rice added, “A lot more people do approach you. I try to go through the parks, and there’s a lot of baseball games going on.

“The kids are a lot more likely come up to you,” Rice added. “Some of them have their own bikes, and they want to show you theirs.”

But aside from the interaction, Rice said he thinks it’s a lot easier for a resident to ask a question of him when he’s on a bike, versus being in a squad car.

“They feel more comfortable asking you a small question,” he said. “It’s a very good resource for the community.”

The bike patrol is also extremely economical. In addition to needing just human power to fuel the vehicle, most of the equipment used – helmets, bikes, etc. – have been donated from various businesses or clubs within the City of Burlington.

“I think there’s a certain economic view to it as well,” conceded Zmudzinski. “The program is next-to no cost.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that, while on a four-hour bike patrol, the two officers (along with the third member of the patrol, Officer Dan Hayes) will log between 10-15 miles on their bike – good exercise and a workout built into the shift.

“It’s a perk,” said Rice. Zmudzinski added, “Definitely, it’s a perk.”

But in addition to that perk, the bike patrol has another advantage. Because they aren’t immediately visible – say, like a patrol car – the officers can often catch people doing things that maybe they shouldn’t.

“It’s probably one of the most effective tools the city has,” said Rice. “We have mobility and stealth on our side.”

Example: the bike patrol works in tandem with patrol cars to enforce the seatbelt initiative within the City.

And in making the change to the two more visible offers, both feel it gives them a chance to be more effective.

“It really breaks down those stereotypical barriers,” said Zmudzinski. “Which, I think, is refreshing for a citizen to see us doing out there.”