Pocono News Section

Police Bicycles Sit Unused in Scranton

Police Bicycles Sit Unused in Scranton - Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 2:35PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 @ 02:35pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Many police departments across the country have turned to bicycle patrols in an afford to save energy costs. That's why several neighborhood organizations in Scranton are upset that the bikes they purchased for the police department are sitting unused and gathering dust.

Police Chief David Elliott says he would like to have officers on patrol on bikes this summer. But Elliott says the police union has turned down his request to waive a provision in its contract mandating that regular officers be assigned to police cars.

In the past the city's bike patrols were manned by "Community Development Officers" whose pay was subsidized by the Federal Government to patrol low income neighborhoods of Scranton. Currently the department is using all of its officers to fill positions and meet the police union's manning requirements.

In nearby Taylor Borough, Police Chief Stephen Derenick is using two bicycles, a motor scooter and a motorcycle to patrol the community. Chief Derenick says people are more likely to approach an officer on the bicycles with issues or complaints since the bike patrols offer a more 'personal touch.'