Grant funds Riverside police summer bike patrol
By DAVID LANZAFAME , mysuburbanlife.com, September 29, 2015
RIVERSIDE – The Riverside Police Department implemented its bicycle patrol unit during the summer.
The part-time unit includes a fleet of five bikes and bike officers, all trained and supplied through a $20,738 summer bike patrol grant funded by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a news release from the department,
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel believes the advantages of a bike patrol in the village includes police visibility and mobility.
“The visibility of an officer on a bike cannot be matched,” Weitzel said. “With this visibility also comes increased contact with the community. On a bike, an officer is much more approachable than a car and can help in making new contacts and gaining trust from our residents.”
Overtime for officers working the bike patrol detail was fully funded by the grant, along with their equipment and four specially outfitted mountain bikes. All officers who joined the unit were required to have certification through a 40-hour training course along with a full medical exam.
According to the department, bike patrol officers made one DUI arrest and an outstanding warrant arrest. Additionally, bike patrols helped with community sponsored block parties, ran business checks and handled suspicious auto and people complaints.
In total, the bike patrol worked 120 hours over the summer months and made 146 community contacts of varying degrees.
“Bike patrol allows officers to be proactive in fighting crime rather than reactive,” Weitzel said. “The department will seek grant funding in 2016 for a second round of summer bike patrol.”