CityView Magazine

FEATURE Pedal Power Fights Crime Y Fayetteville Police take to the streets on bicycles By Kelly Twedell ou probably have seen them rolling through town, during the Dogwood Festival or Fourth Friday events. The Fayetteville Police Department's bike patrol Officers Johnathan Seaman and Tresa Aughburns have been a team over the past year, stealthily riding throughout the downtown areas on hidden paths and places that patrol cars cannot go. Starting off each day with a warm-up through Linear Park, the downtown patrol officers are alert, scanning the wooded lined paths and secluded area for things that only a trained eye can catch. Cruising downtown past the public library on the tree lined, shaded paths behind Maiden Lane then over to Adam Street where much of Fayetteville's homeless population hang out, Officers Seaman and Aughburns greet and know each person by name as they pass them on park benches nearly everyday. It's evident on the ride that the officers are compassionate toward the homeless residents and that they are not ones who pose problems downtown. "We've attended crisis intervention training that has equipped us to better deal with situations as they arise," the officers confirmed. "The biggest problem sometimes is the mental illness combined with substance abuse." Crossing a bridge in a neighborhood, Officer Seaman leaned over and whispered, "Do you smell that?"  I replied "Yes!" as I smelled the sweet aroma of Carolina jasmine growing nearby. Apparently he was not talking about the flowers! The officers signaled for me to be quiet and wait at the other end of the bridge as they stowed their bikes and quietly moved in unison. They moved with purpose down on opposite sides of the brush, heading underneath the bridge to investigate the scent of marijuana smoke. I was relieved and stopped holding my breath when I saw both officers reappear and mount their bikes. They said the individuals must have just left as there had been signs of where they were, leaving behind their nickel bags and trash. "Many times people are not expecting to see police on bikes," said Officer Seaman. "You get to ride up on things that you otherwise would not happen upon and you get to hear everything, unlike being inside a patrol car." The officers told stories of how they have chased people down while on patrol and have called in for backup when they arrest someone. Other victories have been when they have heard a call come across the radio. They zip over on their bikes to the scene beating the patrol cars stuck in traffic, or behind the train. It's a running joke and source of pride between the officers. "This past year with the Dogwood Festival we've had more participation and interest. It was a well organized plan," said Officer Aughburns proudly, talking about the 12 bike police that patrolled each night during the festival. One ongoing investigation that the officers are close to solving are the graffiti tags that randomly appear on the exterior of the historic buildings downtown.  "We've had zero gang graffiti down here," said the officers. "For the most part they are just kids that are bored." Over time the officers have geo-tagged and CityViewNC.com | 39

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