Bicycle Cops

[Ryans67]

Any cops on here that patrol on bike? I just wanted to get some information for a community college course. Were supposed to find someone that patrols on bike and get the following information. 1st. What type of extensive training did it require? Anything beyond what a normal cop would endure? 2nd. How does patrolling on a bike affect your mindset and the process of patrolling? What do you have to be aware of that an officer in a vehicle does not have to. 3rd. Anything else you think is relevant to the duties of patrolling on bike, that most non LEO's are not aware of. T

Thanks to anyone that can help. Id appreciate it, as finding a bicycle cop is not that easy in my town. Thanks again. -Ryan

[CrymsinSky]

1st. What type of extensive training did it require? Anything beyond what a normal cop would endure?

My state requires we be 'certified' before patrolling on a bicycle. What that certification entails is a 40 hour course. Essentially, over five days, eight hours each day. We went through a drill in maintaining balance in a very small, tight space (riding in circles in a single parking space) for a period of a couple of minutes. That one sticks out in my mind but we also did a bunch of other drills that I can't remember. On the last day, we went for a 20 mile ride. This was for endurance purposes. I ride about that far each tour on bicycle patrol.

2nd. How does patrolling on a bike affect your mindset and the process of patrolling? What do you have to be aware of that an officer in a vehicle does not have to.

Aside from not being as readily seen by the public on the roadways, my mindset doesn't change very much from when I in a car. I always have to remember to be a very defensive rider on the roadway. But I have a distinct advantage on rolling up on criminal activity. The person(s) engaged in such activity usually isn't looking for an officer on a bicycle, therefore, I usually have the element of surprise. I can roll up on people without being seen until it's too late. :p


3rd. Anything else you think is relevant to the duties of patrolling on bike, that most non LEO's are not aware of.

I usually have a large bag with all my stuff I take with me in the car such as forms, reference books, and other equipment. On my bike, I have a significantly smaller bag so I can only carry what is essential. I still have to be a 'fully functional officer' so I have to still have the forms and whatnot I would need for typical calls. But, not everything I usually have in the car can I take with me on the bike.

Case in point, I was assisting another officer on an assault call in a 'bar district.' It was closing time for the bars so everyone was leaving the area. I suddenly notice a car going down the wrong way on a one way road. I stopped him and I determined he was DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and he was placed under arrest. I didn't have any of my DWI paperwork because I don't do DWIs (usually) when I am on the bicycle.

Another thing I don't do too much of is traffic stops on my bicycle. First off, too easy for a car to take off on me and refuse to stop. Unless there is an officer in a vehicle VERY close by, the violator ends up getting away scott free unless I get a correct license plate number and do a case report based on the LP info. I will usually only do a stop if I can safely catch up to the car and make visual/verbal contact with the driver and advise them to pull over somewhere. Plus, I don't like not having the video camera on a traffic stop.

I personally look more for burglars (cars and houses), drug activity, and other crime people commit apart from their vehicles when I am on bicycle patrol. That and I talk to people more. The entire concept of bicycle patrol is community policing really. The officer appears to be more approachable than if they were in a car. It's easier for an officer to stop for a citizen if they were on a bike than in a car. Building relations with the public is one of the most important jobs of an officer. It instills a sense of confidence in their police department so they are more willing to be extended eyes and ears for us. They're more willing to help us with crimes in progress and occurred if they know us.

Thanks to anyone that can help. Id appreciate it, as finding a bicycle cop is not that easy in my town. Thanks again. -Ryan

Biking is a very physical thing. Most officers, sad to say, are not in shape at all. Thus, they would rather drive a car than exert themselves for 8-12 hours (depending on their shift). I work for a university PD in a medium sized city. I patrol the campus and surrounding residental areas. We have a low economic area next to campus that has a lot of drug and prostitution activity that does come into our campus...thus we have to patrol it as well. Seeing as I patrol areas large areas not accessible by city streets...we have a large bicycle patrol program.

If you have more questions please feel free to ask. Post it here or send me a PM. Name's Craig.

[Centurion44]

1st. What type of extensive training did it require?

In my department IPMBA (http://www.ipmba.org/) training isn't required, but it's highly recommended. In many departments IPMBA's 40 hour course is the required standard for Bicycle Patrol.

2nd. How does patrolling on a bike affect your mindset and the process of patrolling? What do you have to be aware of that an officer in a vehicle does not have to.

Well, just about anything you'd imagine anyone on a bike would be versus a car. We are not as visible as a car. Definately a lot more fragile. And we are more manuverable and quiet. Not to mention we get paid to excercise.

3rd. Anything else you think is relevant to the duties of patrolling on bike, that most non LEO's are not aware of.

Bicycle officers are more visible in commercial areas (shopping malls, etc) as well as park and recreational areas. We seem more approachable by the community and people are more apt to stop and talk to us. We can sneak up on bad guys a lot better than our automobile counterparts (especially at night) and we can go pretty much anywhere someone fleeing on foot can go- with the mechanical advantage.

The sad part is it's hard for many departments to justify having a bike patrol because in all likelihood our presence will scare off potential offenders more often than catch them in the act- so it's hard to justify the dollars that go into bike equipment and maintainence.

[SgtScott31]

IPMBA is required in my dept to be on the team. They don't let you ride until you've been through the course. Our bikes are one of the best tools we have as an Airport PD.