South Bend Police Department adds e-bikes for officers
by Leo Goldman, WSBT 22 Reporter, May 9, 202
Watch the video: https://wsbt.com/news/local/south-bend-police-department-e-bikes-officers-department-of-justice-crime-community-feedback-south-bend-indiana
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — South Bend Police have a new way to get around.
The department unveiled nine new e-bikes Thursday afternoon.
20 officers have already been trained to use them.
The bikes are through a grant from the Department of Justice.
Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski says the inspiration to get these bikes came from community feedback.
"More interactions and how to do that, and some of those additional comments from the officers and the community was more bikes, more foot patrols, more of these types of things so people wanted to talk to cops, contrary to popular belief, and cops want to talk to people, why wouldn't we," said Ruszkowski.
The bikes are around 80 pounds and feature technological advancements such as a digital screen and flashing police lights.