Columbia Police Dept. unveils new unit

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “We’re talking about being able to take down a suspect from a bike,” says Deputy Chief Ruben Santiago, Columbia Police Department. The team is an official first for the department. “Absolutely, the City of Columbia has never had a full official bike patrol, they’ve had a couple of officers on bikes in the past, we used them in the parks,” says Santiago. Deputy Chief Ruben Santiago is an instructor for the team. “How do you actually exit the bike and run after somebody,” says Santiago. Crandall Sims reporting,”The team will primarily patrol the hospitality areas of Columbia, like the Vista and here in 5 points.” The bike patrol was started for several reasons. “The biggest benefit is it’s going to make our officers a whole lot healthier,” says Santiago. Other reasons include easy access in and out of certain areas, like streets and sidewalks and more face to face time with citizens. “The bikes are very community friendly, it means that you can go into a park, you have the windows and tented glass,” says Santiago. Then of course there are the economic reasons. The patrol car’s monthly fuel consumption is about $250 per month. But, the pain at the pump isn’t a problem for the bikes. Police say the bikes are also more green. “Going green means not using fuel and having cars on for long periods of time and wasting gas,” says Santiago. Speaking of green, the group’s first official assignment is this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Five Points. “No worries at all, of course it’s going to be a fun event for anyone who is going to be a part of the festival, our officers, they’re really excited,” says Santiago. The bikes were paid for by grants. The Columbia Police Department hopes to eventually have bike patrols for all five of their regions in Columbia.