On The Road Again -- Greenwich Police Bicycle Patrols

For the first couple days of his new assignment for the summer season, Greenwich Police Officer Carl Johnson admits he was a bit sore.

A cycling aficionado, Johnson is accustomed to strenuous workouts. And now the 15-year department veteran is cycling everyday for his patrols around town. So for the first couple days of spending eight hours on a bike, Johnson said he was a little sore.

With the warmer weather, the department’s Bicycle Unit is on the road and Johnson is starting his second season biking through various town neighborhoods for his shift.

Johnson said cycling gives officers the opportunity “to meet the people. We’re able to be more one-on-one with the public. We’re more approachable.”

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Taking a break from riding in the central Greenwich business district on Monday, Johnson added, “I can’t tell you how many times I’m stopped on The Avenue (Greenwich Avenue). “When you’re in a car, there’s that disconnect … you have the car separating you from the public…there’s that distance.”

Johnson and a handful of other Greenwich Police officers have bicycle patrol certifications after completing training under the auspices of the International Police Bicycling Association.

In addition to patrolling the central business district, the officers also are assigned to Old Greenwich and Byram. On weekends, they can be seen patrolling Greenwich Point Park.

Department spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said the bike patrols were begun several years ago and are part of the department’s continuing efforts at community policing and interaction with the community that are on the road rain or shine.

Johnson and his fellow cyclists don’t have the accoutrements of a patrol car, including air conditioning or an odometer to indicate just how many miles they pedal each day. And without the use of a laptop, they resort to the old-fashioned way of hand-writing tickets for any offenses they may observe on the road.

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Photo: Officer Carl Johnson. Credit: Barbara Heins.