BICYCLE PATROL UNIT

The bicycle patrol unit operates on a parttime basis. Bike officers are assigned special events such as Summerfest, Fall Festival and high school sporting events. The goal of the department is to deploy officers in various neighborhoods on their bikes to increase police visibility. The bicycle patrol unit will be particularly effective in the downtown area where there is extensive congestion from vehicle and pedestrian traffic during special events. There are many benefits to police officer's patrolling on bikes:

*     Officers are out of their cars and much more accessible to the community

*     The kids love the bikes and it creates a good relationship between officers and
       community

*     The officers are more approachable, thereby enhancing the implementation of 
       the Community Oriented Policing techniques

*     Officers can approach silently and get much closer to the crime in progress
       before being seen

*     Bike officers can cover more ground than officers on foot

*     Original cost and cost of maintenance are much lower

*     High visibility equals crime prevention