Wasilla police to give wheels to good causes

WASILLA -- A pile of bicycles taking up space at Wasilla Police Department could soon be back on the road, and making a difference.

Each year, Wasilla police collect dozens of bicycles. Some of them are turned in by people who find them in the streets or parks. Others are found by officers on patrol or when a resident finds them and calls the police station. Some were probably misplaced by their owners; others might have been stolen and then abandoned. But all have found their way into a small storage area under a set of stairs in Wasilla Police Department where they gather dust and are rarely claimed by their original owners.

From city hall to the police station, everyone seems to think this is a waste.

"You could pick just about any of the nonprofit, social service agencies and they would be interested," Wasilla Police Chief Don Savage said. And why let the bicycles sit idle when they could raise money for some cause?

As city ordinance now stands, bicycles must go through the same type of auction as other confiscated or surplus police equipment, a lengthy process Savage describes as "bureaucratic." And the chief recently realized this isn't what the Wasilla City Council intended.

Not long ago, the council attempted to change its ordinances so found bicycles could be donated to a good cause, but according to Savage and the city attorney, the actual wording didn't exempt bicycles from the auction process and so left the city where it didn't want to be -- with dozens of bicycles.

Earlier this summer, Savage approached the city council with the dilemma and got unanimous approval to cooperate with the attorney to redraft the language. Savage said earlier this week that the ordinance change is in the works and will come before the council soon.

Once approved, the change would permit the police department to donate found bicycles that haven't been claimed within a certain number of days to nonprofit agencies. And it is likely there will be at least a few bicycles to give away immediately. Several shiny, new-looking bikes of various shapes and sizes were collected recently, and it doesn't seem likely that anyone will claim them now. Savage said it is rare for anyone to call Wasilla police in search of a lost or stolen bicycle.

In the past, Wasilla has tried to encourage owners to register their bicycles at the police department so if they are lost and then found they could be notified. But during the years they offered the service, Wasilla Police Department staff can remember only two bicycles being registered.

The end result is that owners aren't getting their bicycles back and Wasilla Police Department is running out of storage space.

"Most people place a relatively low value on them," Savage said. For groups such as Mat-Su Youth Court and other social service agencies, however, the bicycles could become moneymakers. Savage said numerous groups have approached him about the bikes, saying they could use them in a raffle or other fundraiser.

So next time you can't find your bicycle, call Wasilla Police Department. If not, it could be on its way becoming a raffle item.

"At least they will know they're being put to good use," Savage said.