Fort Worth bike cops to head to RNC in Cleveland
Fort Worth bike patrol heading to RNC
Lauren Zakalik, WFAA 11:29 PM. CDT June 21, 2016
FORT WORTH — Fort Worth's downtown bike cops typically spend their days patrolling the calm streets near Sundance Square.
But for about 10 days in July, things may be a bit more tense than the average afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon, the Fort Worth Police Department's downtown bike unit showed News 8 some of the crowd management tactics its 22 bike officers will soon be taking up north.
Police in Cleveland, Ohio have asked them to help out at the upcoming Republican National Convention.
"It's a great honor to be asked," said Sgt. Lorne Tracy, who heads the downtown bike unit, which he says is known for its training programs.
He says they went to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Now, along with police departments from other cities, they're heading to Cleveland.
"They need help and we’re here to help," Tracy said.
Tracy said their role is to manage the crowds before things turn violent. Using their bikes, they can maneuver the masses.
Sgt. Marc Povero, a spokesman with Fort Worth police, told News 8 that except for one high-ranking officer they're sending in case of emergencies, Cleveland is using a grant to reimburse them for time and resources spent, nearing $200,000.
Eight mounted patrol officers and their horses are going, too.
Tracy says neighborhood patrol and school resource officers also trained on bikes and will patrol downtown while the bike unit is in Ohio.
"It doesn’t matter what our badge looks like, what our patch says, when it comes down to it, when a brother and sister need something, we’re here to help," Tracy said. Whether it's in Cowtown or Cleveland.