Bicycle Patrol

The bicycle patrol went into effect on May 30, 2001.

Two bicycles were purchased and are equipped with lights and a siren. Four officers will patrol city neighborhoods during the second and third shifts (3:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m.).

The cost for the patrol, including training, uniforms, and equipment was $6,500. Each police officer involved had to complete a 40-hour training course.

The police officers will drive their patrol cars to the desired location, park and continue their patrol on their bikes. They will target our higher crime areas such as Garden Apartments, Clinton Circle Apartments and Chelsea Village Apartments. When the patrolman is needed at another location, he will be able to load up his bike and go.

According to Asst. Chief Tim Tobias, "This is one of those things that puts them (officers) out of the car and closer to the community, that's something we want to do. It's just another way we want to try to get officers out and talking to kids and people. That's the whole purpose of it."

The belief is that if officers interact more closely with residents, people will be more willing to contact them about crime-related matters in their neighborhoods.

The bicycle patrol was formed by using suggestions from a committee set up within the Police Department and by contacting other departments that were using this type of patrol for their input.

Excerpts taken from the Crescent News June 1, 2001 edition