Electric bikes donated to Wayzata Police in honor of fallen officer
By Jason Jenkins, the Sun Sailor, June 19, 2019
Two new electric bicycles were donated to the Wayzata Police Department in honor of fallen Wayzata Officer Bill Mathews. The battery powered bikes, valued at $5,800 for the pair, can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour and will help officers traverse the city’s hilly terrain. (Sun Sailor staff photo by Jason Jenkins)
The Wayzata Police Department has two new electric bicycles thanks to a donation made in honor of fallen Wayzata Officer Bill Mathews.
The bikes, donated by Renewal by Anderson through the Wayzata Crime Prevention Coalition, were displayed at a June 13 ceremony attended by Mathews’ wife, Shawn, and son, Wyatt. The event was at Klapprich Park prior to the Wayzata Fire versus Wayzata Police charity softball game.
Mathews, 47, was working to clear debris from U.S. Highway 12 in September 2017 when he was struck and killed by an impaired and distracted driver.
Tim Ruff, sales manager with Renewal by Anderson, said a sales consultant who had heard about the fallen officer came to the company with the idea of helping out the police department in some way.
“We reached out to Police Chief [Mike] Risvold and we asked, ‘What do you need?’” Ruff said.
His answer: Electric patrol bikes that officers could use to better interact with pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Community outreach is a big part of it,” the police chief said.
Risvold said Wayzata Police once had a patrol bike program, but the city’s hills proved too steep for regular use of the bicycles.
The battery powered bikes, valued at $5,800 for the pair, can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour and will help officers traverse the city’s hilly terrain. The bikes will require additional equipment and officers will receive special training before they are put into service, the police chief said.
“It’s a win-win for the department and for Anderson Windows being able to partner and donate them to the community,” Risvold said standing next to the new bikes, noting that Mathews was an avid bicyclist.
“In honor of Bill, I’m really, really proud to be able to donate these,” Ruff said.