Corpus Christi Police Department’s bicycle patrol unit is back
By Roland Rodriguez, Posted: Apr 21, 2016 8:16 AM
CORPUS CHRISTI -
The annual Buc Days Festival is back. This popular event has been held in Corpus Christi since 1938. Another fan-favorite of the community is also back. The Corpus Christi Police Department's bicycle patrol unit, which was formed in the late 80’s, is back and operating for the first time since 2011.
Chief Mike Markle's new patrol unit will consist of nine officers that will help the department with ongoing initiatives such as dealing with homelessness, neighborhood patrol and property crimes. It will also play a key role in the safety and security of participants in upcoming community events such as Buc Days carnival, parade and the Fiesta de la Flor next month.
“Bicycles are not the only vehicles that the unit will use. Officers will be patrolling on dirt bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV)," said Lt. James Garrett.
The main advantage of bringing back the bicycle patrol unit is their ability to move throughout the city quietly and easily. Everyone is looking out for sirens in the distance and preparing for police cruisers to roll up. Unless the bad guys are covering all access points with lookouts, however; the police bicycle can sneak in through what would ordinarily be considered inaccessible vehicle entry points. Former bike team members often share accounts of how, when on their bikes, they could just ride right up to a suspect before he or she even realized it. Surprise is a game changer because it reduces the ability of those participating in suspicious activity to react.
Bicycle patrol provides an excellent opportunity for the officer to interact with individuals on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. The informal contact strengthens community trust and allows for the officer to be perceived in a humanistic manner.
Bicycle officers patrol areas of the community that are not as easily accessible by patrol vehicles. These areas usually consist of shopping malls, parking lots, parks, wooded areas and other locations with a heavy concentration of pedestrian traffic. Having the officer in close proximity to the public allows for the officer to hear citizens' concerns and the ability to act directly to those areas.
Bicycle Patrol has not only helped to reduce many problems but also has become a valuable tool in Community Policing.