LYNN — Decked out in neon green uniforms and traveling by bicycle, the officers patrolling the downtown area are providing a much different kind of police presence these days.
If someone lives in or has visited the downtown since June, it has been hard to miss the six Lynn police officers and one sergeant who make up the department’s newly formed Central Business District (CBD) Bike Patrol Team.
Frequently accompanied by a member of the department’s Behavioral Health Unit, the CBD team strives to offer care on the spot, as it is needed, rather than follow up with incidents and individuals after the fact, according to Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec.
The team’s problem-solving and community-oriented approach includes much more than the traditional style of policing, Kmiec said.
“As the population of the downtown continues to grow, we recognized a greater need for a unit to specifically address the diverse concerns of the residents and business owners,” said Kmiec. “The CBD team is designed to patrol the downtown and deal with issues, such as antisocial behavior, that affect the quality of life for people visiting or residing in the area.”
Since the unit’s primary mode of transportation is the bike, the officers are able to move around quickly, which allows for easier interaction with people in the area.
The CBD team has been busy so far, but not so much with crime. A lot of the issues the team is encountering relate to homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health issues, Kmiec said.
Often, the officers will refer people experiencing those types of non-criminal justice related issues to other agencies, which can provide additional assistance, Kmiec said.
A wide variety of services can sometimes be offered on the spot as well, since the team is frequently accompanied by a member of the department’s Behavioral Health Unit, he said.
“Many of the individuals that the officers encounter need help with issues such as mental health or addiction and BHU is there, meeting people where they are, to offer immediate assistance,” said Kmiec.
Kmiec said it is beneficial to have officers in the downtown who have the ability to follow up on problems that begin in such a business-heavy area, which the city has targeted for further growth.
He also cited the importance of building community trust, saying that residents and business owners who become familiar with the officers will be more likely to seek out help.
“It just improves the overall neighborhood for everybody,” said Kmiec.
The department’s bike patrol unit had to be disbanded several years ago because of budget cuts, and reestablishing bike patrols has been under consideration for some time. The team was slated to begin their downtown patrols in late March, but the pandemic delayed their debut until June.
The CBD team, funded by an Executive Office of Public Safety and Security staffing grant, includes Sgt. Ashley Affonco, Officers Pete Alexander, Taylor Haberek, Geo Lopez, John Mackin, Tom Morley and Markanthony Williams, and Shyra Broughton from the BHU.
