La Trinidad bike patrol launched
By Maria Elena Catajan
Sunday, September 22, 2013, the SunStar, Philippines
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Valley cops have taken to riding bikes to save lives.
In simple ceremonies Friday morning, police provincial director Rodolfo Azurin with Valley top cop Byron Allatog formally launched the Bike Patrol.
Initially, seven cops on bikes will scour the Central Business District (CBD) to address three key areas of concern, police presence, tourist security and direction and control of traffic.
The six man team on wheels will be designated in three sections of the Valley CBD from the strawberry fields, market area stretching to the section of kilometer 3, where traffic is heavy.
Azurin said the bike patrol team will be able to address the three areas of concern with the new strategy using the bikes.
The initial seven bikes were donated by the Police Savings and Loans Association, Incorporated for the use of the Valley cops who underwent a three-day training to use the two wheeled contraptions both for mobility as well as for protection.
Mayor Edna Tabanda lauded the provincial police command for launching the program, saying the strategy is not only innovative but also environment friendly. "I think the people will be very excited to see our police on bikes," she expressed.
The cops on wheels will be seen by the public from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on a shifting basis along key areas in the CBD.
During the launching various scenarios were played out by the police to demonstrate how the bikes can be used in crime prevention, tailing and apprehension of suspects on the move as well as utilizing the bikes to becomes weapons to thwart crimes.
Tabanda has pledged to add 14 new units of bikes to the seven existing earmarked for the municipality' 2014 budget. "This is one of the programs for peace and order that will really help in the implementation of our goals," the mayor stressed.
Azurin said the Bike Patrol likewise urges other bikers to join in police rounds in the CBD. "Security is everyone’s concern; maybe other riders in the valley would like to join our police and help in crime prevention," he suggested.