Blip

About this episode

Video highlights a pilot Bike Patrol program in Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice. Starting in Spring 2010, four uniformed probation officers ride bicycles to maintain contact with their most hard-to-reach clients, particularly the homeless. Bicycles are more practical because these offenders tend to congregate in places that are hard to reach by car and may be too distant to reach on foot. Bike patrols concentrate in downtown Portland, near transitional housing and homeless shelters. Probation officers who volunteered for the program completed a free one-week Bicycle Training Program provided by the Portland Police Bureau. The program has led to an increase in contacts, communication and engagement in supervision. Side benefits of the program are its low carbon footprint and the health benefits for officers.

• Release Date

  Aug 26, 2010

• Runtime

  05:49