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Bike donations support GPD’s village patrol, visibility in community

Local businesses presented the Guam Police Department with donated mountain and dirt bikes at the GPD Dededo Precinct on March 30. Sabrina Lynn S Monteverde/PDN

Sabrina Lynn S Monteverde, Pacific Daily News, March 31, 2016

(Photo: Rick Cruz/PDN)

Guam -- Local businesses donated mountain bikes and motor bikes to support the local police department’s village patrol program.

Members of the community gathered at the Guam Police Department Dededo precinct Wednesday for a presentation of two new mountain bikes and two new motorcycles that are capable of off-road as well as on the streets.

According to a press release, the GPD’s Dededo precinct implemented a mountain bike unit to patrol various neighborhoods within the villages of Dededo and Yigo. The unit aims to deter crime by providing proactive patrol and visibility, the release states.

GPD Chief Joseph Cruz explained that the bikes will support the Community Resource Unit, a program that will allow GPD officers to be more visible in the Dededo community.

The program in Dededo is very similar to the patrol program in Tumon called Crimes Against Tumon Tourists, Cruz said.

“We’re looking at starting the same things at Hagåtña precinct and Agat precinct,” he said.

Lt. James Santos, GPD commander for the Dededo precinct, said the Community Resource Unit program is a partnership between the private community and the Guam Police Department. He explained his precinct reached out to local businesses to ask for their support.

“They know what’s happening in the area, and they become extra eyes for us,” Santos said.

The Guam Home Center donated the Yamaha motorcycles, and JMI-Edison donated the Giant mountain bikes.

“We hope the two motor bikes will make a difference and make Guam a better place to live,” said Mike Wu, Guam Home Center general manager. “I truly believe in the benefits of a strong program as it is beneficial to our community as a deterrent for potential criminal activity,” he added.

Santos said there are other things coming to help enhance the Dededo patrol program.

Cruz said: “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

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