By W. Zachary Malinowski
CENTRAL FALLS -- Mayor James A. Diossa and Police Col. James J. Mendonca announced on Tuesday the police force has launched bicycle patrols to fight crime in the city.
"There are many benefits to having our police officers on bicycles, however, the most important ones are visibility and mobility,'' said Mendonca. "The visibility of an officer on a bicycle cannot be matched.''
Mendonca said the bike patrols are similar to the old days when officers walked the beat in the city.
Diossa also endorsed the plan and said the patrols will "only serve to strengthen the relationships between the hard-working men and women of our police department and the community.''
He said that a police officer is more approachable on a bike versus a car.