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PTCPD ramping up bike patrolsFri, 08/29/2008 - 3:18pm
By: John Munford
This summer, Peachtree City police began to patrol the cart paths using two all terrain vehicles. Now they are preparing to start bike patrols. This week a group of officers learned how to maneuver their bike in extreme conditions, going up and down stairs and negotiating other obstacles. The training course also covered pursuit techniques and how to quickly and safely dismount and make an arrest or fire their sidearm, police said. The training will increase the number of certified bike officers from four to 12, and patrol vehicles will be equipped with bike racks so officers can switch from regular patrol to bike patrol, police said. Now all five patrol shifts will have officers capable of bike patrol. Because bikes are quiet, officers can often approach suspects virtually unnoticed, and they can get places where other vehicles can’t, police said. They can also be indispensable in search and rescue and mass casualty incidents while also being used for routine patrolling of parks, parking lots, subdivisions, businesses and athletic or civic events, police said. And because they’ll be out in the open environment, officers on bike patrol will be able to use their sense of smell and hearing to detect and address crime. Police are also hoping for more interaction with the public as they patrol the path system and other areas on bikes. Because of inclement weather this week, the department needed an indoor facility to conduct the training, and Pathway Communities along with the Peachtree City Airport Authority provided a brand-new warehouse for the job, which was greatly appreciated, said Police Lt. Mark Brown. The course was offered by the International Police Mountain Biking Association. The department currently has four mountain bikes for patrols and will accept bike donations to enhance its fleet, police said. login to post comments
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