Followup: Southwest Precinct bicycle patrol gets official approval

(WSB file photo)
For more than a few months, two Southwest Precinct officers have been riding bicycles whenever possible, to patrol areas including Roxhill Park, Lincoln Park, and The Junction, as well as the Westwood area after the wave of robberies targeting students. It’s an experiment by precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske, who has said repeatedly – as noted in our community-group coverage dating back to last spring – that it’s worked out so well, he was trying to get more officers on bicycles throughout the area. And he’s finally received official approval to do just that, he told community activists who posted to the South Park community mailing list, and we subsequently confirmed it with him.

Capt. Wilske says he expects to have the bicycle patrol set up within a month or so, as a few details remain to be worked out. He says, “We will have a total of 6 officers, with a maximum staffing of 4 per day (2 in Frank sector, 2 in William sector and 2 off duty). I have to admit I am pretty excited about this, I think it is going to be good for the officers and great for the neighborhoods.” He told the South Park advocates something we’ve heard him tell local groups: “My experience from being a bicycle officer myself is that this style of patrolling is one of the most effective ways to deal with street-level crime, and makes the officer approachable to those folks who may not want to call 9-1-1 but will walk up to an officer and talk to them.

P.S. If you aren’t familiar with the West Seattle/South Park sectors, here’s the newest map.

Mark Arm March 3, 2015 (5:23 pm)

WESTWOOD VILLIAGE PERHAPS??? BUS STOP AND ROXHILL PARK PERHAPS??? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Go Sea Pol

Brenda March 3, 2015 (5:45 pm)

Very good news! Bikes can be very effective against street crimes.

JayDee March 3, 2015 (5:57 pm)

Two thumbs up. I chatted with the officers when I saw them unloading bikes next to Key Bank, and I think riding down the alleys and side streets near Admiral, the Alaska Junction and Morgan Junction is a great way to patrol. Harder for the perps to anticipate/avoid, and good for the officers to be seen in a better light by the citizens. Here Here!

ScubaFrog March 3, 2015 (7:34 pm)

That’s fantastic! I wish we could get a couple of dedicated bicycle officers on Alki – at least during spring/summer and sunny weekends.

Jay Koster March 3, 2015 (9:13 pm)

Great news to see that more bike patrols will be out and about to help reduce the crime, but not super thrilled to see the lead-in photo.

West ender March 4, 2015 (4:54 am)

A great place for part of their patrol is 35th & Roxbury where many bus riders of the C line like to get their drink on in public/semi hiding in the immediate area.
Due to the weed shop and cheap beer store nearby the riff raff gravitate to that stop often, especially in nice weather, so they can juice up for the long bus ride to nowhere….

rdf March 4, 2015 (5:35 am)

As long as they remember to have their headlamps on when it’s dark out. The other day I saw two seattle police bike riders and cutting across the 7-11 parking lot. The only reason I saw the bicyclist in front was because her partner had his light on. Facing away they have a nice reflective log on the back but heading toward you, without their lights they aren’t easy to see. I think bicycles are a great idea but they also need to be safe.

w.s.maverick March 4, 2015 (5:52 am)

i second that scuba frog

phil dirt March 4, 2015 (7:41 am)

This is good news. Officers dressed in uniform, out patrolling, will have an effect. I wish we could have a couple of plain clothes officers out, as well, to patrol the bus stop at Westlake Village and Walgreens on 35th.

Kathy March 4, 2015 (10:26 am)

This makes so much good sense to increase SPD bike patrols. It’s much cheaper than horse or car maintenance, more agility in tight spaces than a car and more speed than a foot patrol. Plus it helps with physical training. These benefits can also apply to the general population, not just the police.

JAT March 4, 2015 (11:09 am)

Awesome entirely positive comments thus far…

And the more W. Sea motorists get used to leaving a reasonable space for people on bike with POLICE on their backs carrying guns, perhaps the sooner they’ll get used to leaving a reasonable space for other people on bikes… :)

Oakley34 March 4, 2015 (11:33 am)

bike policing is about so much more than being fleet, maneuverable, able to easily access alleys etc…it is actually much more about community policing, being able to build ties with people in their neighborhoods and to get away from the us/them mentality that pervades so easily when cops are sealed away in their cars. Peeps are missing the point. A good move for the WS, and I hope this approach is being ramped up city-wide.

carol March 4, 2015 (12:01 pm)

It would be nice if I could get in touch with officers that responded to the 16 year old who was jumped on 30th ave. They couldn’t get all the info they needed because said victim couldn’t remember everything at that time because he had a concussion. The police should know that these kids were probably out of Denny or Sealth because they all had backpacks on. One of them should have a cut or bruise somewhere on his face where he was hit by victim.
another was carrying some yellow thing he was using as a weapon, also.
I tried to call the number I was given to contact police , but you can’t ever get through. Its just recording after recording.