Officer Rogers’ neigbhorhood: JRPS + FHP trails
In Friday’s column, Andy Thompson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote about Stacy Rogers, the Richmond Police officer who patrols the Forest Hill Park and the James River Park at Belle Isle and Reedy Creek. From Andy’s column: I wrote a column in July 2009 calling for a police unit or task force dedicated to the James […]
In Friday’s column, Andy Thompson of the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote about Stacy Rogers, the Richmond Police officer who patrols the Forest Hill Park and the James River Park at Belle Isle and Reedy Creek.
I wrote a column in July 2009 calling for a police unit or task force dedicated to the James River Park. At the very least, I argued, the park “needs patrols, bike patrols, preferably, by officers capable of riding the trails between the Nickel Bridge and Belle Isle.”
By November of that year, avid paddler, adventure racer and mountain biker Stacy Rogers was given that assignment by 3rd Precinct Capt. William Smith and Sector 312 Lt. John O’Kleasky.
The results have been exactly as hoped. They found the right guy in Rogers and, in many ways, that area of the park has been transformed…in both crime reduction in the area Rogers patrols on bike — Forest Hill Park and the James River Park from the Nickel Bridge to Belle Isle — and community support.
Andy and I spoke with officer Stacy Rogers recently in the park, in a chance meeting for all three of us. Rogers is so enthusiastic about his job and the presence of bike patrol in the James River Park and Forest Hill Park is very necessary. Years ago, I had my car broken into at Reedy Creek and have been cautious about that area since, but Thompson’s column points out that break-ins in the parking lot are down 40 percent.
Thank you RPD and officer Stacy. We need to support Rogers’ beat and continue to make sure that the 3rd Precinct sees value in assignment.
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