COLUMBUS — Central Ohio law enforcement agencies are teaming up to collect gently used and new bikes to donate to children who need them.
The Dublin Police Department hosted a bike donation drive Saturday in partnership with Starfish Assignment and other Columbus law enforcement.
This is the second year of ‘Bike Assignment,’ which started with Starfish and the Columbus Division of Police.
Detective Sean Taylor of the Columbus Police Digital Forensics Unit said he came up with the idea for the project while on duty.
“Last fall, I was in patrol on the west side and I saw some kids riding around on a bike that didn’t have a seat on it. There were four or five of them sharing the bike,” Taylor said. “I got a hold of Nicole Banks who works for Starfish and she allowed me to help donate 75 bikes in the community I worked in.”
The goal this year is to donate 400 bikes.
Columbus, Dublin, Ohio State University Police and officers from John Glenn Columbus International Airport are all involved.
Nicole Banks, who is the president of Starfish Assignment, an organization that connects law enforcement with the community, said she’s excited to see the project grow.
“They (Dublin Police) mentioned they wanted to work with us to partner with Columbus Police to help people in need in the city and we thought about working with them on the ‘Bikes Assignment,’ Banks said. “They said ‘absolutely,’ they were all in on it.”
Lt. Nick Tabernik with the Dublin Police Department said he got to meet other law enforcement colleagues through the effort and is thankful to work together to give back.
“It’s very humbling to be a part of something like this and absolutely fantastic that we can get these bikes and send them to someone who needs them,” Tabernik said.
To donate a bike, visit kidsbikes@123mail.com.
