YSU police introduce bike patrols - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University police officers are now armed with a new weapon of choice, bicycles.

Pedaling across campus, officers may not look intimidating but they're bringing something to the table no cruiser can.

"We can move from one end of the campus to the other very efficiently, very effectively," said Major Alki Santamas with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department.

"They're able to see more, hear more in the crowds and have a more of a finger on the pulse of what's going on around them," said Christian Hunter with Mill Creek Metro Parks.

Already used by the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, Youngstown Police Department and Mill Creek Metro Parks Police, YSU is now also saddling up with the idea of bike patrols.

"It's a very stealthy way," described YSUPD Chief John Beshara. "They don't see us coming, they don't hear us coming and we're on them, we're watching."

YSU crime statistics show burglary and theft are among the campuses most common forms of crime. The addition of a bike patrol could change that.

"They're not going to do it because they know we're in the area, on the bikes, opposed to in a car. The car goes by and there is their opportunity," Beshara said.

The bike patrols are also cost efficient. The three bikes purchased by campus police cost $1,700. Compare that to one cruiser that costs about $30,000.

The "real" savings could come in the future. By being out and about, officers have nearly twice as much interaction with the public creating positive relationships.

"The interaction you get between the people visiting here, the students, the staff, us, you can't measure that," emphasized Beshara. "It's immeasurable."

Officers volunteering for the bike patrols will undergo specialized training. They hope to operate year round.