Cop Alert: Cops alert for the needs of people who bike

Here’s to community-oriented policing becoming the norm, with every community having the leadership and necessary resources—especially the right number of well-trained officers—to make genuine community-oriented policing possible. Among the benefits of community-oriented policing is that cops—constables of the peace—are empowered to recognize and proactively address community challenges of many different types.

Cops see people’s needs and in many cases can refer them to local resources that provide help—such as food, health care, parenting support, domestic violence programs, clothing, educational resources, and even transportation resources, including bicycling resources.

And sometimes cops take it on themselves to provide help personally.

You don’t hear about that as much as you hear about cops who discredit this honorable profession—and yes, such cops must be held accountable. That minority harms citizens they swore to serve and protect. They also subject good police officers to unwarranted mistrust and increased risk of harm.

Often that disgraceful minority overshadows the hundreds of thousands of good cops on duty in our nation of over 322 million people. Every day honorable people who work in law enforcement are watching out for the well-being of diverse people in our communities.

Here are just a few examples.

And no, the cops listed below aren’t among the many who brighten the holiday season by giving away hundreds of bikes to youth in their towns. That’s very cool too! You’ll find such cops in Monterey County; e.g., Soledad Police, as highlighted in Bicycling Monterey’s Constables of the Peace / Cops on Bikes.

The examples below are simply…

Everyday quiet heroes

alert to the needs of individuals in their communities

These examples include some Monterey County cops and some from elsewhere in California, but you can find their counterparts nationwide. Wherever you spot them, please take a little time to express your gratitude to cops like these.

• Benicia Police Department – http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Police-officers-gift-bike-to-Vallejo-teen-who-9239836.php

• Los Banos Police Department – http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/community/los-banos/article3290310.html

• East Bay Regional Park District Police Department – http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/06/19/oakland-east-bay-parks-police-donate-bicycles-to-nonprofit/

• Ceres Police Department – http://www.modbee.com/news/local/crime/article109658222.html

• Marina Police Department – http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Police-Target-Employees-Band-Together-to-Help-Victim-of-Bike-Theft-386210871.html

• Salinas Police Department – http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/local-news/salinas-officer-and-walmart-manager-replace-stolen-bike/40828076 Also see more examples of support for bicycling shown by the PD in Salinas, the Monterey County seat and its largest city: https://bikemonterey.org/happy-bike-month-monterey-county-from-salinas-police-dedicated-to-public-safety-for-bicyclists.html

• To enjoy many more examples, here’s one way to find them. On social media, such as Twitter or Facebook, type:

#communitypolicing bike

#communitypolicing bicycle

Below: Salinas Police Department officers at Ciclovia Salinas, Monterey County’s first Open Streets location.

If you find information on the Bicycling Monterey website of value, or appreciate other Bicycling Monterey projects, please consider making a contribution. Thank you.