Community Police Officer (CPO) Ardella Young and Patrolman Chris Mendola are busy patrolling the city streets these days. I ran into the two yesterday busting a guy on Elmwood for having an open container in a brown paper bag. Bike Patrol has become a very effective means of enforcing these types of laws in the city. Often times, patrol cars must deal with the problem of maneuverability when it comes to monitoring the sidewalks. The bike patrol offers officers the ability to cover the parks, the sidewalks, narrow alleys, etc. Chris and Ardella were very interested to know what the public felt about the bike patrols. I know that the business owners appreciate their presence. Next time you see these guys out on the bike beat, give 'em a wave and let them know that their presence is appreciated. As for the two officers, they told me that they are usually the first to sign up for the beat in the morning. It's a great way to stay in shape, and interact with the community on a more personal basis. Some of their routes include Hertel, Delaware, Allen, Elmwood, and the parks.
Update: If you want to let these guys know that you appreciate the work that they are doing, and if you're a fan of the bike beat... then give Chief Healy a shout @ 716.851.4413.