IPMBA Conference Archives

2015 IPMBA Conference

Twenty-five years ago, IPMBA did not exist. The modern era of bicycle policing was in its infancy. A group of police officers who happened to be instructors/members of the League of American Wheelmen decided to hold a meeting in Tucson, Arizona. It was dubbed the First National Conference of Bicycle-Mounted Police and was hosted by the University of Arizona Police Department and Parking & Transportation Services, the Tucson Police Department, the Tucson Chapter of the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, and the Governor’s Arizona Bicycle Task Force. IPMBA’s founding fathers – some of whom traveled to Chandler to mark this occasion – did not know whether their experiment would succeed or fail. Succeed it did, and in 1992, at the second such conference, IPMBA was created. Twenty-five years later, the IPMBA Conference still sets the standard for public safety cycling training. Participants select from multi-day training courses and a plethora of workshops. Many put their skills to the test in the obstacle course competition, which is never the same twice. One thing that never changes is the camaraderie that transcends geography, public safety category, generation, and rank, and marks IPMBA as a truly welcoming association.


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  • 2015 IPMBA Conference
  • 2015 IPMBA Conference
  • 2015 IPMBA Conference
  • 2015 IPMBA Conference



Thanks to Our Hosts

The IPMBA board, staff, members, and conference attendees, would like to express their deepest appreciation to Chief Sean Duggan and the Chandler Police Department for hosting the 25th Annual IPMBA Conference.  Twenty-five years is an important milestone, and we were honored to have achieved it in the City of Chandler.  One always hopes that such occasions will be special and memorable, and it was clear from the beginning that it would be both. 

IPMBA would like to recognize the members of the Command Staff, who stopped at nothing to ensure that attendees received a warm welcome, experienced outstanding training, and enjoyed the benefits of a well-executed event.  Their willingness to work long hours and go “above and beyond” speaks volumes about their commitment to the City, the department, IPMBA, and to excellence.  The team – and they truly functioned as a team – of Sgt. Scott Picquet and Officers Blake Fairclough, Kyle Jordan, Paul Kultala, Scott Parr, Jason Sieczkowski, and Dave Sitz are to be commended for the manner in which they planned and implemented the event. 

Of course, they could not do it without the support of people like Chris Keipert, who operated the hospitality/rehab with an experienced hand; John Somerville, Tami Gray, and their team of tireless Explorers in the Bike Check; Range Sgt. Jason Barnes, Officers Joshua Logan, Preston Pierce, Dan McQuillin, and the numerous other staff members and volunteers who contributed to the success of the event.  Special thanks to Jim Schwalenberg and Jim Carreno for documenting the event in a most professional manner, and to the Chandler Police Honor Guard and the Chandler Fire Department Honor Guard and Pipes & Drum Corps for calling the Keynote Ceremony to order. 

We are also grateful for the support of Chandler’s partnering agencies.  Our 2005 host, Scottsdale Police Department, perhaps remembering how much work the conference requires, donated the services of Officers Christian Bailey, Zack Fielding, Tara Ford, Steve Negron, Daniel Safsten, and Paul Wein, all of whom easily became integral members of the host agency team.  Tempe Police Department Sgts. Mike Carleton and Tony Miller, along with Officers Andrew Brooks, Blake Dunn, Freddy Jimenez, Luke Marchant, Anthony Nardini, and Matt Torres likewise pitched in to lend a helping hand whenever and wherever necessary.  IPMBA Instructor Larry Fuchtman and Officer Nathan Thompson from Arizona State University also provided assistance and support. 

Mesa Police Department provided access to their superb range facilities and the help of Sgt. Mark Njaa, while Phoenix Police Department hosted the Airport Police Bicycle Operations workshop at Phoenix Sky Harbor, coordinated by Sgt. Martin Nickel and escorted by Officer Nick Colavita.

We are grateful to the generous in-kind and financial support provided by the Downtown Chandler, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, the Chandler Law Enforcement Association, the Chandler Lieutenants and Sergeants Association, 84 Lumber, Dilly’s Deli, Firehouse Subs, Knights of Columbus, Pistol Parlour, Rigatony’s, Serrano’s, Smart Firearms, and our host bike shop, Global Bikes. 

And, of course, we thank those who attended.  We recognize that obstacles of staffing shortages, budget constraints, and travel restrictions must be overcome.  We appreciate the priority you place on the quality training programs offered by IPMBA and are confident that the experience exceeded your expectations. 

IPMBA returns east, to Asheville, North Carolina, for the 26th Annual Conference, April 23-30, 2016.  See you there!