IPMBA News

Nolanville PD puts new bike patrol program into rotation

By Rachael Riley, Harker Heights Herald, June 26, 2015

Photo:  Eric J. Shelton:  Nolanville Police Department Police Chief Gary Kent adjusts the police department's new patrol bikes Tuesday outside of the Nolanville Police Department.

NOLANVILLE TX — Nolanville Police Department is rolling out with a new program.

Just two weeks ago, residents saw Police Chief Gary Kent was not above hopping on a bicycle to set the standard for the department’s new bike patrol.

“The inaugural day that I went out, the looks and the comments were priceless — people were in disbelief or amazed that this day and time bike patrol is still going on,” Kent said.

With the help of donations accumulated over time from the Nolanville Police Department Nonprofit Association, two new bikes outfitted with lights and sirens were purchased for the department.

The bikes and equipment were at zero cost to taxpayers, Kent said.

Though officers aren’t required to ride the bikes, Kent said he gauged the interest before implementing the new program that also promotes bike safety and helps keep the officers in shape.

“Without the support of my officers, this program wouldn’t have really gotten off ground, but we’ve had tremendous support from the officers and the community,” he said. “It takes a lot from our officers to actually do it because Texas is hot, and to have a group of men and women that want to serve their community even more is just amazing.”

Kent said the bicycles don’t replace the police vehicles, but are rather another enabler for the department to increase visibility.

Police cruisers are equipped with racks so officers can save on fuel and take the bikes to different parts of the community, he said.

“As a kid, you used to see police officers on foot patrol and bike patrol,” Kent said. “This fits right in with community policing. It lets residents actually see their police department and up close, and keep in mind that security and safety is very important for us.”

Residents can expect to see officers on bike patrol both during special events and at any given time, the chief said.

Plans are also being considered for Segways and a golf cart type of patrol, he said.

“I don’t mind being a small police department, but I just want to be the best small department,” Kent said. “That’s what we’re striving to maintain here — a good partnership with the community.

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