Police Bicycle Patrol Techniques - Essay Example

Topic: Bicycle patrol In the USA, bike patrol has been in practice since late 1980’s. It has been a leading country on the world platform to develop specialized police bike officer training, police bike patrol techniques and police bike equipment. As such, bicycle patrols are known as very useful and reliable policing choice, taken as ‘specialized unit’ in police departments of American states. It needs different training, equipment, duties and sanctioned budget to run such patrols. In America, two major organizations offer quality training and information on bicycle patrols. They are – The International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA), and the Law Enforcement Bike Association (LEBA). The IPMBA model is more popular and known (Shah, 2003). According to IPMBA resources, mountain bicycles are used in police departments to control criminal activities. It has become a fashion to prepare a bicycle patrol unit throughout United States of America’s state police departments because of the benefits. Bikes are noiseless, cheap and dependable and are helpful in filling up the gap between automobiles and foot patrol. Communities prefer to talk to a bike patrol officer than to a neighborhood beat officer. It helps policing efforts to solve problems. Bicycle officers can make better use of their senses of eye, ear and smelling in searching criminals. Criminals don’t doubt their presence around even if they are in uniform. Another benefit of mountain bike is its worth in crowded urban areas, where traffic is very slow, and crowd comes in between the motorized way. Bikes can enter into parks, parking lots, institutions, colonies, business centers, tourist complexes and VIP functions. The streets, side-walks, alleys, trails and such areas can be reached via a bike, where motor vehicles cannot enter due to lack of space. They are useful both in urban and remote areas to save people from casualties also (IPMBA resources). It is very important to learn how to handle weapon at the time of patrol cycling. Bike can be used as a protective tool also. The option of ‘use of force’ shows that bike is not just a medium of transport but techniques like riding stairs, cone courses and slow speed skills besides scenario exercises, and suspect encounters add to the already learnt cycling skills. So, passing the training course is very important before practicing police bike patrols (Shah, 2003). Here lies the importance of IPMBA courses like Security Cyclist certification courses. The Complete Guide to Police Cycling of IPMBA covers specific related topics like administrative and legal issues, technical and biking skills, maintenance, and patrol processes. The guide can be helpful in starting a bike unit as well as first-class resource for established units. In United States of America, Lancaster Police Department (LPD) has around 170 personnel and about 40 riders (Shah, 2003). Bicycle patrol has the added benefit of clear vision, reach and better timely action. It is a right transport to solving problems, as it offers good chances to talk daily with public (Perez & Angiolillo, 1994). The process of creating and developing a bike unit requires certain step-by-step follow-ups, as has happened in American different states’ police departments. Let’s take the case of the Lancaster Police department (LPD), in raising the bicycle patrol unit. 1. Team Selection: The Lancaster Police Department has set standard criteria to select its bicycle patrol officers. Minimum two years experience of being an officer is required besides being fit and good in communication skills. It is expected of a bicycle patrol officer to think ‘outside the box’ to organize crime reduction programs (Shah, 2003). 2. Training Process: States have different syllabus but common to all is IPMBA PCC training program of 5 days/40 hours. Training is like defensive tactic to reduce the chances of serious injuries. In LPD, the course also includes a day of off- road riding to get expertise in handling and riding skills. It increases the confidence of riders, generally practiced on the last day of training (Shah, 2003). The Lancaster police force also provides the opportunity to its riders of IPMBA Advanced Techniques Course. It includes a review of what has been earlier learnt besides weapon training in actual settings, the like of ‘dismounting from the bike and getting to cover’, and shooting from the bike at night (Shah, 2003). 3. Health and Safety: The LPD provides comfortable clothes, suitable in hot temperature so that officers perform their duties efficiently. Pants of bikers are tapered in at ankles not to come in between gear cogs while performing duties. Riders’ fitness and health are important issues with LPD (Shah, 2003). 4. Budgets, Funding and Purchasing: In most of the states, bike units have separate budgets to purchase bicycles and equipment. Donations also help. In LPD, City taxes are particularly spent on community policing and the bicycle units. The unit runs fund raising programs and gets monetary help from the Lancaster Bike Club (Shah, 2003). 5. Uniforms and Accessories: It is the responsibility of the police department to provide cool, comfortable uniform going well with bikers’ professional look as well as suitable for climate and season (Shah, 2003). 6. Bike and other Equipment: Like all other state police departments, LPD purchases IPMBA specified bikes. Mostly bikes are customized according to riders’ measurements so that they need not reset bikes according to their size. It is generally discouraged to share bikes in all police departments, as it is not costly like motor vehicle. Added safety devices in bikes are useful but not a choice against correct cycling techniques (Shah, 2003). 7. Maintenance: LPD is considering the option of providing training to its bikers to do repair services but preference is still given to taking outside services of trained mechanics so that police officers in greater numbers are available for patrol (Shah, 2003). 8. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): All states’ police departments have different SOPs. In LPD, bike officers are called ComPol Officers. They perform 12 hours duty from 0700 to 1700 hours in the day and 1500-0100 in the night for the whole year. The city center is grouped into 12 areas – one officer per area and 2 officers in municipal area on bikes. Generally 5 to 10 officers in a shift on bikes are supported by motor vehicles and horses. Bike units answer to first response calls like any other unit but at the same time, they perform ComPol activities within their areas (Shah, 2003). 9. Effect on Reducing/Detecting Crime and Job/Public Satisfaction LPD – Bike patrols have created a very positive impact on the locals by controlling traffic in high crime rate and anti-police neighborhood. The performance of back up units in reaching at the scene of action well in time is another feather in the cap and that too, before other patrol cars. LPD statistics show that in the first year of introducing bike patrol in the year 1994, bike unit succeeded in cutting down on major crimes in the downtown area by 56%. In the coming years, crime rate went down slowly until it reached at the minimum level. More than that, it brought a happy change in the outlook of residents about better safety, made possible through police presence, active patrols and legal action against so-called small offences (Shah, 2003). 10. Bicycle Specific Legislation: Patrol bikes are not bound by traffic rules and enjoy the benefits applicable as per the state of Pennsylvania Traffic Codes. It is very significant to note that bike patrols are playing positive role in policing in America. In comparison to investments made, results are impressive due to high returns in crime control. Different states police departments like LPD have spent sufficient money and human resource. They have come to know and have realized the particular nature of the bike unit in police patrol. Training to efficiently handle bike while on patrol is very important. Bike patrol without knowing special skills could be risky for the success of crime prevention programs (Shah, 2003). On the whole, bike patrols of America, whichever state you choose, whether it is the Lancaster Police Department or others like University of Pennsylvania Police Department, New York Police Department or Telford Police Department, are given due importance by the top management, as a dependable policing alternative. The different police departments have set up ‘specialized units’, where bike police officers are provided with training, equipment, duties and monetary resources. The US model has inspired other world governments to use bike patrol policing in crime prevention. Many years of experience of the line has put the American bike patrol units in leading positions. A very important role has been also played by organizations like IPMBA in offering quality training and creating related infrastructure. Other countries’ police bike officers can learn a lot from the shared opinions, experiences and professional standards maintained by American bike officers. References Perez & Angiolillo. (1994).The Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2007 from http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/police/bicycle.html. Shah, Michael. (2003). Police bicycle patrol techniques. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship Report. Retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The Complete Guide to Police Cycling, IPMBA RESOURCES. Retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2007 from http://www.ipmba.org/resources-ipmba.htm. Read More