MPD not stopping all cyclists to see if they can prove ownership

There is much concern this morning about an NBC 4 story highlighting a questionable law enforcement policy coming out of MPD's 3rd Dristrict. They report that in an email from the Third District commander, Commander Jacob Kishter, to his officers, he instructs his officers to perform traffic stops on bicyclists and "If the rider cannot prove ownership, take the bike for safekeeping until they can prove ownership." Which was part of the problem with bicycle registration so many years ago. Mike DeBonis eloquently summed up a common reaction by asking "Prove ownership”? Huh?"

 But, in a subsequent email, Commander Kishter said 

Rest assured we will not be harassing bike riders.We have noticed an increase in robberies where bicycles are being used and I want my officers to pay more attention to our known violent offenders who are committing these cases. In fact we made a great robbery arrest last night involving one of our known offenders who was riding a bicycle which he did not own. 

And in a follow up with Shane Farthing of WABA he assured Farthing that

This came from an improperly researched NBC 4 article and is not true. MPD stopped a robbery suspect on bike, questioned him, and proceeded accordingly (including finding that the bike was stolen).

There is no indication MPD is stopping cyclists generally or impounding bikes.

Debonis is posting a clarification

Update: As promised.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Comments

[Crickey7]

On its face this looks a bit anti-cyclist. But upon further inquiry it shows the police actually helping the bike community, which is plagued by theft.

[JW]

"Two people on bicycles fired shots as they pursued a car late Saturday in a Northeast Washington neighborhood on the edge of Capitol Hill, authorities said."

"Officers will patrol the area and will give special attention to people on bicycles as well as to enforcing traffic regulations, police said. "

That is from the Wash Post 2 weeks ago. When I read it, I wondered if the suspects were driving, would the police give special attention to people driving cars? Maybe there is something more to the NBC 4 story...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/bicylists-open-fire-near-capitol-hill/2011/09/04/gIQAOVDn2J_blog.html

[contrarian]

This story had legs because it was completely believable, because this was exactly what 3D cops used to do before bike registration was abolished. In fact, one of the arguments that led to the ending of bike registration was the finding that the number of complaints of police misconduct related to bike registration checks were astronomically out of proportion to the number of bicycles.