White Oak police officers ditch patrol cars for bicycles
By Meredith Shamburger, Oct. 24, 2016, Longview News-Journal
White Oak TX -- The White Oak Police Department is deploying two new crime fighting tools among the city's neighborhoods and parks: bicycles.
White Oak police said that while the idea of using bikes may sound comical, it's actually an effective way to do things, such as catch burglars in the act. That's because bicycles aren't as conspicuous and are quieter than a regular patrol car.
"It's easy to see a patrol car coming, but bikes are stealthy," White Oak Police Chief Terry Roach said.
Two White Oak police officers will be patrolling the city on bikes: Toby Laughlin, a former Longview police officer who brought up the idea of bicycle patrols to White Oak officials, and Cody Still. Laughlin and Still work different shifts, which Roach said is a benefit to the city.
"They'll be out patrolling at different times, so the bikes will be out there all the time," he said.
White Oak joins several other East Texas police departments in using bicycles, including Longview, Marshall and Tyler. Hallsville police had bicycle patrols a few years ago, but the department said this week that is no longer the case.
Police use bicycles for several activities. Tyler police note their bicycle unit works drug enforcement, burglary prevention, crowd-control activities and other assignments. Longview police, too, use bicycles to patrol neighborhoods and work special events, in addition to helping with community relations.
Laughlin served as a bike patrol officer with Longview police for several years before retiring in 2013. He decided to pitch the idea to his new bosses in White Oak because he said bicycles are a great tool for police departments.
"I just saw how effective they were in community policing," he said. "It helps you better serve the community."
Roach said the new bikes will help officers get out in neighborhoods and have better interactions with residents. Both officers will have undergone training related to bicycle patrolling.
"It's just a good community relations thing," Roach said.
The department showed off its new bicycles last week, and both officers have started riding them to and from work. Laughlin said he took his bike out on patrol this week, and he said at least one person came back to ask what was going on.
He also was able to use the bike on a recent call about a potential burglar roaming around a neighborhood. Because he works a night shift, Laughlin said his new patrol bicycle means often he'll be able to sneak up on unsuspecting criminals.
"They don't even know you're coming," he said. "It's a great tool."