IPMBA News

HPD receives patrol bicycles; training to start soon

by Lici Beveridge, Hattiesburg American, June 23, 2016

Hattiesburg police in January decided to step up its bicycle patrols, which will be launching soon.

HPD spokesman Lt. Jon Traxler said the six bicycles arrived this week at a cost of $740 apiece. Training will begin next week, when about eight to 10 officers will learn to use the bicycles for police work.

"We had a bike patrol in the past," Traxler said. "The bikes we had were just getting too old and with the upkeep they were no longer cost-effective."

The bike patrol had been with the neighborhood enhancement team, but now has been moved to the department's patrol division.

An HPD officer, Lt. Harris Tapp, went for training in April so he could return to train his fellow officers. The 32-hour class teaches officers how to maneuver the bicycle in situations such as up hills or stairs or to use the bicycle to take down a suspect, Traxler said.

"It's a really good tool for us to add to the police department and to the city to be able to protect our citizens," Traxler said.

The bicycle patrols will be used on the Longleaf Trace, especially in areas where patrol cars are not able to access, Traxler said. They also will be used for other areas of the city and during special events like HUBFEST and the city's various parades.

The bicycles will help officers blend in, especially on the Trace.

"When you see a bicycle coming you may not know it's a police officer," Traxler said.

If the bike patrols go well, more bicycles could be in the department's future.

"As our patrol division grows, it will be looked at, and possibly be added to," Traxler said.

Watch the video:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2016/06/23/hpd-receive-new-patrol-bicycles-training-start-soon/86307662/

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