Crowdog
04-12-2005, 07:34 AM
Cumberland police ready to battle illegal ATV activity
CUMBERLAND -- The Police Department has received the first of two off-road motorcycles for use in combating the growing problem of illegal ATV riding on town property and roads.
"We will be out there soon," said Cumberland Police Chief Anthony Silva.
The chief said he is developing guidelines for the 16 police officers who would patrol the trails on the Monastery grounds and other town properties where police have received an avalanche of complaints from town residents.
So far, eight of the department’s police officers are certified to ride motorcycles, and the chief has enrolled another eight in a five-hour course.
Before the officers hit the streets and trails, Silva said, policy and procedures would be put in place to ensure the safety of police and the illegal riders as well.
"First, the number-one priority is that we don’t want anyone getting hurt for enforcing state and local law. Not the officers, not the persons riding the ATVs," Silva said.
The chief said he also intends to emphasize to the officers the department has a zero-tolerance policy in place against illegal off-road riding on town property and vandalism, which has been a consistent complaint to the Police Department.
"The community is demanding it. It’s very unsettling to people who call and complain, then see no police action," Silva said.
In the past six months, two police officers have been injured in the line of duty involving young ATV riders. The most recent was last month, when Patrol Officer Dennis Hicks was hit by a 14-year-old on a motorcycle off Hynes Road. Police said Hicks ordered the teen to stop on the trail he was riding, but instead the youth gunned the engine and drove straight for the officer.
The young rider is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, trespassing and violation of a town ordinance.
Last weekend, 19-year-old Joel Mayer, of 96 Tower Hill Road, was arrested after he crashed his unregistered 2005 quad ATV into a telephone pole on Sunday. Mayer was taken by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital and treated for contusions.
Police, who impounded the quad, cited Mayer for owning an unregistered recreation vehicle and operating it on a roadway.
Funding for the new motorcycles, which may be driven on and off road, came from a $46,000 community-policing grant, Silva said. The department will purchase the second motorcycle in the near future.
"This is an issue that has gotten more and more attention as a result of the number of complaints," Silva said.
With the recent publicity of the ATV problems in town, Silva said two local police departments have made inquiries into the Cumberland Police Department’s stepped up efforts to control the problem.
And Silva said he’s received a barrage of telephone calls from residents who have expressed nothing but strong support for the stance the police department has taken against illegal ATV riding.
Mayor David Iwuc said he’s received his own communications from individuals and organizations that support his plan to build an off-road track in town.
The plan would not only alleviate the problem of people trespassing and damaging town land on ATVs, Iwuc said, but could provide a source of income for the town, which relies primarily on residential property owners for its taxes.
The mayor said he is still researching an appropriate locale for the proposed track and intends to hold a public forum concerning the issue.
CUMBERLAND -- The Police Department has received the first of two off-road motorcycles for use in combating the growing problem of illegal ATV riding on town property and roads.
"We will be out there soon," said Cumberland Police Chief Anthony Silva.
The chief said he is developing guidelines for the 16 police officers who would patrol the trails on the Monastery grounds and other town properties where police have received an avalanche of complaints from town residents.
So far, eight of the department’s police officers are certified to ride motorcycles, and the chief has enrolled another eight in a five-hour course.
Before the officers hit the streets and trails, Silva said, policy and procedures would be put in place to ensure the safety of police and the illegal riders as well.
"First, the number-one priority is that we don’t want anyone getting hurt for enforcing state and local law. Not the officers, not the persons riding the ATVs," Silva said.
The chief said he also intends to emphasize to the officers the department has a zero-tolerance policy in place against illegal off-road riding on town property and vandalism, which has been a consistent complaint to the Police Department.
"The community is demanding it. It’s very unsettling to people who call and complain, then see no police action," Silva said.
In the past six months, two police officers have been injured in the line of duty involving young ATV riders. The most recent was last month, when Patrol Officer Dennis Hicks was hit by a 14-year-old on a motorcycle off Hynes Road. Police said Hicks ordered the teen to stop on the trail he was riding, but instead the youth gunned the engine and drove straight for the officer.
The young rider is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, trespassing and violation of a town ordinance.
Last weekend, 19-year-old Joel Mayer, of 96 Tower Hill Road, was arrested after he crashed his unregistered 2005 quad ATV into a telephone pole on Sunday. Mayer was taken by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital and treated for contusions.
Police, who impounded the quad, cited Mayer for owning an unregistered recreation vehicle and operating it on a roadway.
Funding for the new motorcycles, which may be driven on and off road, came from a $46,000 community-policing grant, Silva said. The department will purchase the second motorcycle in the near future.
"This is an issue that has gotten more and more attention as a result of the number of complaints," Silva said.
With the recent publicity of the ATV problems in town, Silva said two local police departments have made inquiries into the Cumberland Police Department’s stepped up efforts to control the problem.
And Silva said he’s received a barrage of telephone calls from residents who have expressed nothing but strong support for the stance the police department has taken against illegal ATV riding.
Mayor David Iwuc said he’s received his own communications from individuals and organizations that support his plan to build an off-road track in town.
The plan would not only alleviate the problem of people trespassing and damaging town land on ATVs, Iwuc said, but could provide a source of income for the town, which relies primarily on residential property owners for its taxes.
The mayor said he is still researching an appropriate locale for the proposed track and intends to hold a public forum concerning the issue.