Get Involved with IPMBA

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by James Englert, PCI #1081
Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Department
IPMBA Industry Liaison

Since you are reading this, you have some connection with IPMBA. Chances are whatever your connection is, you are probably at minimum a member, and there is a good possibility you are an instructor.

Whatever your connection is in your career – law enforcement, EMS, or security – you take pride in what you do. You don’t go to work every day looking forward to getting to the end of your shift; you actually want to make a difference.

Since you are reading this, it is likely you have in interest in riding your bike on duty or in your personal time.

IPMBA is just like most other specialty organizations – tactical, school safety, negotiator, K-9, etc. Much of the work accomplished by these organizations is the result of the work done by volunteers. These volunteers are typically members who use their specialized skill sets on a regular basis in their careers or in their personal life. These people have ideas and can change and improve how something is used or taught.

IPMBA is a lot like other organizations that serve a highly specialized group of professionals. There is one full-time and one part-time person. They are supported by a dedicated board who volunteer their time and usually their money. Since you are still reading this, hopefully you are thinking that you might have some knowledge or skill that might benefit others. You may not have the time or interest in running for the board, but there are different levels of involvement. We have several committees you can join. I’m currently serving as Industry Liaison; I value the members of the Industry Relations Committee. Even if you don’t want to join a committee, most of our board members would appreciate the help if you have some extra time to devote to the association and its projects.

If you are really interested in getting involved, consider running for the board. Once you are on the board, there are a number of different positions in which you can serve. Terms are three years, and are staggered so that each year, three positions are up for election or re-election. There are also term limits, which ensure turnover to “new blood”. This combination of experience and fresh ideas means that anyone elected to the board could effect change that benefits the organization.

An example of this is IPMBA’s acceptance of flat pedals as a form of pedal retention. I consider this a major change. Mike Harris, who was serving as the Treasurer at the time, brought the idea up at a board meeting. At the time he raised the issue, I was against it. I’ve always had SPDs and that is what I know. Mike has extensive knowledge of flat pedals from using them personally and through his involvement with IMBA. His extensive knowledge and understanding of the riding techniques needed to effectively ride with flat pedals changed my mind.

The discussions during the board meetings about flat pedals were interesting and sometimes a bit heated. If I remember correctly, three or four members (including myself) were against the idea. Slowly, people started to change their minds. Mike made some compelling arguments as to why the pedals should be deemed acceptable for public safety use. Since I had never used a quality flat pedal with removable pegs, I had no frame of reference. I was just basing my decision on the technology I knew best – SPDs. As with most things, though, the technology was changing and the techniques were changing with them. Mike bringing this idea up opened my mind to them, so I gave them a try. I installed them on one of my mountain bikes and then my work bike. I’m now a big fan of flat pedals. I credit Mike with bringing a major change to IPMBA, one that may not have happened yet had he not volunteered to serve on the board.

IPMBA has always relied upon its members to advance the profession of public safety cycling, both training and operations. If you have some time and interest and you want to make a difference, get involved. Whether you run for the board, join a committee, volunteer to help with a project, or teach at the conference, your knowledge and experience could bring about a change in the way we train or operate, or the equipment we use.

James is a deputy with Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. He has worked in the jail, as a patrol deputy, and has been a School Resource Officer (SRO) since 2005. He was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in 2006 and as an IPMBA Instructor in 2008. He has raced as a category 2 in USCF and ACA and as an Expert in NORBA. He enjoys riding his bike whenever he can, including commuting to work. James was elected to the IPMBA Board in 2012 and currently serves as Industry Liaison. He can be reached at jenglert9926@yahoo.com.

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