Lawton police begin patrolling neighborhoods on bicycles

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By Kyle Payne, KSWO ABC News | April 17, 2019 at 10:53 PM CDT - Updated April 17 at 10:53 PM

LAWTON, OK (TNN) - Six Lawton police officers gave up their cars tonight, and patrolled on bicycles for the first time in almost ten years.

Earlier this afternoon, police officers went over their plans, loaded up the bikes onto their squad cars and ventured out to patrol for a few specific crimes.

“Burglaries, motor vehicle theft, things like that, we are looking at robberies. Were looking at those tonight trying to see as much as we can as far as getting suspects ID, or to get information from people who know something or saw something," said Sgt. Timothy Jenkins.

Sergeant Jenkins said he knows they lose some speed moving from a car to a bike, but he said this method helps them go places they typically can’t.

”Bicycles are very inconspicuous, people don’t pay attention to bicycles when they see them in neighborhoods. They just think it’s anybody riding a bike, so it does allow us to be more discreet about finding people committing crime," said Jenkins.

As far as where they will be patrolling, Jenkins said they go where the hot crimes area take them, especially during the summer.

“We’re gonna be out, were going to be mobile, so we just want people to be aware that when they do see us out in the summer time, it’s not by coincidence, or by chance. Were going to be out trying to patrol as many areas as possible. Were going to try and hit as many neighborhoods as we can,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins said getting these bikes back on the roads is important for the officers and for the neighborhoods they will patrol.

“Having us out there in those areas being able to do this not only does it benefit us exercise wise, but it does benefit our community seeing the officers are out patrolling trying to combat crime and stop stuff before it happens," said Jenkins.

LPD plans on these officers patrolling on bikes twice a month, but it can only happen on days when they have extra officers on hand.

Jenkins said that when they move to the new police station, they will continue to grow the bike patrol presence.