Police Captain Says Central Towson Bike Patrols 'Well-Received'

The Towson police precinct in the central area, and Capt. Jonathan Trentzsch said things are looking good.

"The feedback has been pretty much positive and well-received," he said.

The patrols were put in place a month ago because business owners in central Towson wanted to see a more visible police presence. But Trentzsch, head of the Towson precinct, said the patrols don't mean there is a growing crime rate in the area.

"People want to feel safer, and this helps with that," he said.

Though bike patrols are now present, the number of officers assigned to the area has remained the same.

"Their roles—their job descriptions—are different," Trentzsch said. "This part of Towson is one of the most effective places to do it."

The captain elaborated that given the number of people walking around the area, bike patrols made sense to make officers more accessible.

"This way, someone can just see officers, flag them down and start talking to them," he said.

The officers on the bike patrol, who can generally be seen during the daylight hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., have received intensive training to fulfill their roles, Trentzsch said. They will be on the streets until the cold-weather season sets in.