Bike Theft Prompts More Patrols
By ANNIE DIMMICKArticle Photos
MOUNDSVILLE - Moundsville Police have heard the call from one concerned grandparent and are increasing patrols on the city's walking trail.
They also are pursuing new ways of watching the area via surveillance technology.
According to Police Chief James Kudlak, the department has assigned one motorcycle patrolman per shift to work on the trail, where a convicted felon allegedly stole a bike ridden by a young boy in June.
"We have them out patrolling," Kudlak said. "We keep an eye on (the trail)."
On June 12, Robert Anthony Kazules, 40, allegedly stole the bike from the boy who was riding it on the walking trail near 10th Street. The boy told police Kazules jumped out of the high weeds behind him, pushed him off the bike and said, "It's my bike now, kid."
Kazules, who had just been released from a New Jersey prison after serving a sentence for domestic battery, was arrested later that day after investigating officers found him sitting on a bench on 10th Street. Kazules denied the theft, but the boy told officers Kazules was the culprit.
Days later, the boy's grandfather, Carl Boso, told members of City Council the incident should be a sign that an increased police presence is necessary.
Kudlak said Thursday that, in five years, the bike trail stretching from Moundsville through Glen Dale has only seen three "incidents," but he added that he is working to get surveillance cameras installed along the trail.
"I would love to see (the cameras) down the road," he said. "Right now it's just a matter of getting the funds."
He said the department is actively pursuing funds for the cameras, which would allow patrolling officers to view various areas of the trail via monitors in their cruisers. In the meantime, he assured the walking trail is being patrolled regularly.
Kazules remains in the Northern Regional Jail, awaiting further court proceedings on the resulting first-degree robbery charge.
|
TruthSeeker
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-07-08 9:58 AM
|
I should add that in addition to Boso's illegal junkyard there is another one full of ruined tractors from the O4 flood that are visable to anyone on the walking trail. Sure makes Moundsville look inviting to those taking a stroll or riding a bike there.
|
|
acousticportal
|
|
|
07-06-08 11:04 AM
|
Speaking of illegal junk yards....you should go up Dallas Pike Road off of Rt. 40 sometime....Murphy has a dump with stuff falling into the creek, and just up the road, about ten people live in two trailers that resemble a dump...seriously, there's trash and refuse everywhere littering the stream.
|
|
TruthSeeker
|
|
|
07-06-08 4:08 AM
|
What?! Boso can break the law everyday with his illegal junkyard but ask City Council for more police patrols? Wow!
|
|
ILVWVA2
|
|
|
07-05-08 3:04 PM
|
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE AGE OR RETIRE FROM FULL-TIME JOBS DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE USELESS AND IDLE...MOST WOULD LIKE TO BE OF HELP WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WITH PROPER TRAINING, THESE PEOPLE CAN BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION TO AID IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS VOLUNTEERS. TRY IT! LIKE IT! SENIOR CITIZENS ARE PROUD PEOPLE AND A GOOD ASSET TO ANY COMMUNITY WHEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER.
|
|
ILVWVA2
|
|
|
07-05-08 3:01 PM
|
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE AGE OR RETIRE FROM FULL-TIME JOBS DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE USELESS AND IDLE...MOST WOULD LIKE TO BE OF HELP WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WITH PROPER TRAINING, THESE PEOPLE CAN BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION TO AID IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS VOLUNTEERS. TRY IT! LIKE IT!
|
|
ILVWVA2
|
|
|
07-05-08 2:54 PM
|
Don't have sufficient police officers, no money to hire..Do what some counties in VA are doing.Start a Volunteer Citizens Police Academy making qualified people aware of the laws and what they can voluntarily do to help the hired police; as free an officer from desk jobs, transporting criminals, walking a beat, directing traffic, clearing accidents, ide along with cops as a second pair of eyes or hands when needed in sit and/or hands for the police.relieve officers from duties that a citizen could do such as control of traffic during funerals and government functions. The county I live in keeps the best of the older police vehicles for those trained citizens to use, citizens police graduates also help with disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, major fires, etc.Not all situations required certificed police when citizens can do this with proper training in a Citizens Police Academy, by trained officers of screened citizens qualified to work as volunteers within police depts; saves $$
|
|
acousticportal
|
|
|
07-05-08 9:10 AM
|
It's nice that the Chief is responding to public requests for coverage. The bottom line is that the police can't be everywhere all the time. The public can and should take some part in protecting their community as well.
|
|
UNCOMMONSENSE
|
|
|
07-05-08 8:28 AM
|
Much like the city of Wheeling, Moundsville officials didn't consider the huge ongoing costs of maintenance, security, and liability of these walking trails. As far as the "wireless camera" idea, if done with FCC LICENSED frequencies and done by QUALIFIED public safety technicians, it may work. The current UN-licensed wireless internet services in Moundsville are using HAM radio frequencies of 902-928mhz, 2.4ghz, and 5.8ghz. Hams are LICENSED to tranmit up to 1500 watts on these frequencies. And should any Ham file an interference complaint with the FCC, these UN-licensed internet transmitters will be forced to be shut down.
|
|
TheRealityPolice
|
|
|
07-05-08 6:46 AM
|
NO KIDDING - what a jerk! WOW, my family and I have used this bike path but I always carry pepper spray. Figures, the ******* was in Moundsville - Glen Dale won't put up with that crap. Maybe the police need to get bikes of their own - save gas, lose weight and patrol. What a concept.
|
|
PCGS701
|
|
|
07-05-08 1:35 AM
|
I had to laugh my a** off when I read the guy is 40 years old and acting like a 13 year old bully. PUSHED the poor kid off his bike. Send this nut case back to NJ after he does his time.
|