PORTLAND, Ore. — On Friday, Portland Police Bureau (PPB)'s Central Precinct announced the expansion of the Bike Squad, doubling it from five to ten.
The new team will be comprised of four officers and one sergeant, and will work Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. until midnight. PPB says, at times, they will adjust for special missions, and the new squad will complement a team of five that is already working Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
"We feel that the bike squad, and the neighborhood response team has been super successful during the day with the chronic livability stuff, and the drug sales and the drug use," said Sgt. Jerry Cioeta. "We have a lot of stuff that has been going on last summer and the summer before into the winter, pushing later and later into the evening time."
The Bureau believes it will be helpful to have a high visibility presence at night, in addition to the work and proactive policing they say they do during the daytime.
"The bikes do a really good job of getting to some things faster than cars can, with the dynamics of downtown traffic," said Sgt. Cioeta, "We can weave in and out of traffic; if necessary, we can go on sidewalks. There's a visibility factor. It may be 'low-tech,' but there are factors and benefits that bikes have."
“I am thrilled to be in a position to expand the Central Bike Squad,” PPB Chief Bob Day said in a release Friday. “Our Bike Squad does incredible work downtown and growing the team will only improve upon that work. In addition, adding resources to our Bike Squad furthers my goals of transforming the dynamic between police and the public and reducing crime and the fear of crime.”
Portland Police said the officers and sergeant joining the Central Bike Squad will strategically address crime and livability issues, including drug dealing, unlawful weapons possession, stolen vehicles, graffiti and other vandalism. They will also support Central Precinct Patrol response, as well as PPB’s Entertainment Detail that works during the late-night hours on weekends.