FWPD Bike Unit is increasing patrols, adding e-bikes to fleet
by: Taylor King, WANE, June 5, 2024
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Fort Wayne Police Department’s (FWPD) Bike Unit is increasing in size, and you will see more patrolling in the downtown area.
The Bike Unit has added electric bikes, or e-bikes, to their fleet which are pedal assisted and can reach speeds up to 28 mph. Brock Hassenzahl, a bike patrol officer, explained how the e-bikes the patrol officers use help with maneuvering around downtown.
“We’re also able to patrol down alleyways if there is certain activities that happen in alleyways, we’re quick, quickly able to get there versus a car would,” said Hassenzahl.
Hassenzahl added the transition to e-bikes has been outstanding. He also explained what types of calls the FWPD Bike Unit responds to.
“A lot of issues that we run into are suspicious persons, maybe people that are dealing with a mental crisis or some sort of drug related issue,” Hassenzahl said. “We have unwanted parties so if somebody goes into business and refuses to leave, a lot of times the police will be called, it’s just much easier for us to respond to that.”
The Bike Unit works in conjunction with the River Patrol Unit, a brand new team expected to start patrolling the rivers this month.
There are five total Bike Unit officers, two on first shift with a third sergeant and two officers on second shift to cover both morning and nighttime activity.
Hassenzahl said the Bike Patrol started in 2017, but after there was a need to address the issues of illegal activity happening around the parks, FWPD created a full-time unit.
If you see any of the Bike Unit officers around downtown, Hassenzahl encourages people to not be shy and come say hello.
“A lot of people see police and they are initially intimidated,” Hassenzahl said. “But the nice thing about being on a bicycle is we’re much more approachable, where you get a lot of waves from children and a lot of parents as well.”