‘Walking the beat’ helps

How very interesting - its no secret that law enforcement is seen in a positive light when officers are seen in everyday situations, not only when they’re doing their work such as apprehending someone or pulling someone over for a traffic infraction. Yes, these are important duties.

At the same time, seeing law officers on bicycles or “walking the beat” or on a scooter or horse, it doesn’t matter - it just makes sense. I’ve lived downtown for 17 years - a number of years ago it was routine to see law officers on bicycles riding through the various neighborhoods in and around the city center. It was reassuring and it definitely cuts down on petty and not-so-petty matters.

While visiting Honolulu during the winter it’s routine to see an officer or two on a scooter on patrol in the urban area - it can be a small motorbike, anything that gets the officer out in with the people. Just getting them out of their cars is beneficial.

So, where are they ? What’s happened to them ? I haven’t seen a bicycle patrol officer in years.

The community has been supportive of our local police and despite the few officers that detract from their good work, most are a credit to their profession. At the same time it seems that we see fewer and fewer officers mingling with the “people.” Why is that?

It’s no secret that merely seeing law officers being present would go a long way to solve issues before they become issues.

Steve Berde

Spokane