Bicycle patrols hit streets
Victoria police train officers for revamped unit
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CYCLING SKILLS
A few skills officers learned to patrol on bicycle include:
Skills for riding in traffic
Riding down steps
Jumping onto curbs
Maneuvering through a tight obstacle course
Dismounting at speed
Riding at night
Safe handgun tactics for bicycles
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CYCLING SKILLS
A few skills officers learned to patrol on bicycle include:
Skills for riding in traffic
Riding down steps
Jumping onto curbs
Maneuvering through a tight obstacle course
Dismounting at speed
Riding at night
Safe handgun tactics for bicycles
Two officers silently glide up to a group of men who stand behind an apartment building on Regency Avenue.
Lt. Michael Tatum and Sgt. Jason Mikeska ask the men, who appear to work on a car, what they're up to.
It takes a few beats before the men realize they're talking to police.
"This is a lot quieter than a car," Tatum said. Had the men been doing something illegal, "You'll be right beside them before you know it."
Stealth and maneuverability are among the top reasons the Victoria Police Department rejuvenated its bicycle patrol. The bike patrol started in 1996, but fell by the wayside in recent years.
As part of the resurrection, the department bought five new patrol bikes and last week certified eight new officers for patrolling by bicycle.
Officer Josh Robinson trained and tested the officers on cycling techniques. Early Wednesday, the officers practiced basic techniques, such as turning to fully look over their shoulders and switching from riding in single file to tandem.
Some officers veered off course a bit when they looked behind them. Another spun his legs, barely moving, apparently in too low a gear.
By afternoon, the group mastered more advanced skills at DeLeon Plaza.
One by one, they climbed a set of three steps, barely faltering to the top. They vaulted off their bikes and landed on their feet.
"Make sure you get out of your toe clips before you get off the bike," Robinson said. Robinson patrolled on bike as a campus police officer in San Antonio, so he looked comfortable. He watched the Victoria trainees. "These guys are good."
The officers are already taking to the streets and parks to help prevent crime.
Like Tatum, Robinson said the bikes are perfect for discreet nighttime patrol. Officers aren't as obvious as they would be in cars, but they're faster than they would be on foot, he said.
During the holiday season, patrol officers will ride their bikes in parking lots and other areas where car burglaries and other crimes are frequent, Tatum said. He foresees the officers finding creative ways to use the bikes to prevent and catch crime.
The officers certified to patrol on bikes will carry the bikes on their cars and use them when it's appropriate, he said.
"I want them to think outside the box and work with the officers in cars," Tatum said.
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This is great. We have bikes and horses in the malls in the city. I feel safer shopping when these professionals are close.
December 16, 2009 at 8 a.m.This should be advantageous up at the Mall and on the hike and bike trail but for the most part, Victoria is too spread out to really realize the full potential bicycles offer. They will still have to have officers in cars transport arrestees and evidence and the amount of gear they can carry is severely limited.
December 15, 2009 at 3:44 p.m.LeslieWilbur:
I am very upbeat to hear that they do issue citations, some (many) of the drivers in Victoria don't know what traffic laws are and should have never been issued a driver's license.
December 15, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.great idea !!!
this allow vpd to get up close in hot spots around town as needed.
December 15, 2009 at 2:23 p.m.That is a good idea, but, I worry about their safety.
December 15, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.Cobraden:
December 15, 2009 at 9:19 a.m.Actually, Sgt. Mikeska and Lt. Tatum told me they have stopped cars in neighborhoods before for traffic violations. Also, the officers on bikes can, as you suggested, get the car's plate number and description and radio it to someone in a car.
Leslie
Will these policemen write citations for traffic violations? If not, will they at least write down license plate numbers, time and location of offense and alert a policeman in a car? Probably not, just wishful thinking on my part.
December 15, 2009 at 7:04 a.m.Did'nt we use to have motorcycle cops in Victoria? I think they stopped in the late '80s. I like the idea of cops on bikes. Great idea! Lets see how many new crimes are stopped due to the bike cops.
December 15, 2009 at 6:09 a.m.VPD, the ball is in your court! Good luck! BTW, how many bikes were purchased and what was the price per bike? What is the total cost of this new program?