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Putting police
officers on bicycles is actually a very old idea
that has made a strong come back in the past
decade. Bike patrols were started in an attempt
to find a less expensive alternative to
patrolling. Bicycles were less expensive than
vehicles and did not have the high maintenance
cost of horses.
Putting a police
officer on a bicycle has many advantages. It
makes the officer more approachable by the
public without the car doors and windows forming
a barrier between the officer and citizen,
allowing for more informal interactions. This
approachability fits in well with the Macomb
County Sheriff's "vision" and our commitment to
community policing. The bicycle also attracts
children to the deputies, which creates a
learning situation for safe riding discussions.
A bicycle also
has access to areas a car cannot go, such as
trails, side yards, and some alleys. This
broadens our patrol abilities. The bike officers
also actively patrol the County parks, Fairs,
Festivals, participate in parades and special
events.
To be
qualified for the bike unit, an officer must
attend training. During this training, the
officer is taught advance riding skills,
defensive and offensive riding strategies and
general bike maintenance. The officers currently
working the bike unit come from citizens
throughout the County who have volunteered to
give back to their community.
The Bicycle
Patrol also works with the Youth Bureau in
presenting Bike Safety Education to reinforce
safety skills, encourage children (and parents)
to ALWAYS wear
a helmet (you won't see us without
ours!!!!) |
