Safety is called into question at a place where lots of us run, walk and ride our bikes. Four robberies last month on the Duck Creek bike path and police say teens are responsible.
The incidents happened on the bike path between N. Fairmount and Division. The teens blocked the path and, as people would approach the teens, they would take people's personal items. The teens are 13 and 14 years old -- and they're currently being charged with possession of stolen property, robbery, assault and interference with official acts. One of them is charged with 1st degree robbery for brandishing a knife.
These bike path bullies have residents, like Dennis Marsh, feeling a little more anxious about using the trail -- "The Davenport Police maybe needs to patrol this a little more frequently," Marsh said.
Davenport Police said they are on the bike path, just not every day --
"We try to put some extra patrols on it," said Major Don Schaeffer. Police patrol the trails two or three times a week.
"We struggle with the bike path because we don't like cars being on it," said Schaeffer. "We really try to keep our four wheel vehicle off the bike path, just for the safety of the people using the bike path."
Unless there's a complaint or an investigation on the actual bike path, squad cars generally stay off of it. Part of the reason is many residents tell police they don't like to see squads out there.
"They think it's a hazard for us to be on the bike path," Schaeffer said. "We get citizens that complain about us being on the bike path, too."
Davenport Police have bicycles they use to patrol, but those don't get used as often as they'd like.
"If we have the staffing available, then we'll put them on the bikes." Police need to make sure they cover all eight of their city beats, first. If there's staff leftover, then they can take the bikes out.
"You can't please everybody but you're doing the best you can," Schaeffer said. And police are making it clear, if anyone ever sees anything suspicious or feels threatened, authorities will be on that bike path within minutes.
"Make us aware of what's there and we'll make ourselves available," said Schaeffer. "We want to be proactive."
And in the meantime, people spending time out on the path are taking their own precautions.
"Always be aware of what's going on around you," Marsh said. "Think of what you might need, perhaps whistles or definitely your cell phone."
