BICYCLE UNIT GEARING UP TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME.Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer Two sheriff's deputies on mountain bikes will hit city streets next month as part of a full-time evening police detail that officials hope will result in more arrests and stronger community connections. State and federal grants have been lined up to pay for the addition of a bicycle patrol unit dispatched by the Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Sheriff's Department. Deputies Joe Galante and Kevin Donoghue Kevin Donoghue (born 1979) is an American politician and a member of the Maine Green Party serving on the City Council in Portland, Maine. He is one of the first two members of the Green Party to ever serve on the Portland City Council and the youngest member to serve in the will ride along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and through dense residential side streets Tuesday through Saturday nights. The department began dispatching the bicycle detail on a part-time basis last year after local merchants raised $2,000 to pay for new bicycles. Cmdr. Kathy Kemp said bicycle deputies spot crimes that officers behind the wheel miss. ``They're right on top of whatever happens,'' said Kemp. ``They can get in and out of alleyways, parking structures and apartment buildings. People don't even know they're there.'' The bike detail is good for community relations 1. The relationship between military and civilian communities. 2. Those public affairs programs that address issues of interest to the general public, business, academia, veterans, Service organizations, military-related associations, and other non-news media entities. , Kemp said, because people feel more comfortable approaching a deputy on a bicycle than one in a cruiser cruiser, large, fast, moderately armed warship, intermediate in type between the aircraft carrier and the destroyer. During World War II, battle cruisers operated as small battleships, combining in one vessel maximum qualities of gun caliber, armor protection, and . ``The deputies become a lot more approachable when they get out of their car and get on a bike,'' Kemp said. Money made available through federal and state crime legislation is also paying for the addition of a detective to investigate misdemeanor misdemeanor, in law, a minor crime, in contrast to a felony. At common law a misdemeanor was a crime other than treason or a felony. Although it might be a grave offense, it did not affect the feudal bond or take away the offender's property. By the 19th cent. crimes. Kemp said the detective will be assigned to look into reports of vandalism The intentional and malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another. The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism. It includes behavior such as breaking windows, slashing tires, spray painting a wall with graffiti, and , annoying phone calls, minor assaults and other crimes sometimes ignored because deputies are busy working on more serious reports. Part of the ideal of community policing, Kemp said, is to identify and solve community concerns before they escalate es·ca·late v. es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing, es·ca·lates v.tr. To increase, enlarge, or intensify: escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf. v.intr. into serious crimes. ``A lot of times if we can get involved in those minor offenses, we can stop them from becoming major,'' she said. The three new positions bring the total number of sworn deputies in Thousand Oaks to 89. Eight officers have been added to the department in the past three years. The bicycle patrol will begin working regularly in November. A five-year veteran who has been stationed in Thousand Oaks for two years, Donoghue said he is looking forward to the new detail. ``The thought of bicycling at work is almost a fantasy job,'' Donoghue said. ``I'm really looking forward to getting out of a car - I can't wait.'' Deputies on bicycles are good public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most and good for the department, Donoghue said. ``It really kills two birds with one stone - we're able to open ourselves up to the public, but it's also a good law enforcement tool because the people who (are) up to no good don't expect to see you on a bike,'' he said. |
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