Midland Police bike patrol gets lift from Dow
20K grant will purchase six new Trek bikes
By Tereasa Nims, Midland Daily News, May 23, 2023
Photo: Midland Police Department Community Relations Officer Brennon Warren takes one of the new bikes purchased with a Dow grant for a spin. Dow granted nearly $20,000 to the MPD for its bike patrol program. Photo provided by the Midland Police Department.
Midland MI -- Area residents will see more officers on bicycles after Dow granted the Midland Police Department nearly $20,000 for bicycles and support equipment.
“We are very thankful,” said Midland Police Department Community Relations Officer Brennon Warren.
Warren said the grant covers six new Trek bicycles to replace the department's “extremely old and worn-down bikes."
“They aren’t conducive to riding anymore,” Warren added.
The grant also covered many bike helmets, which the police department plans to giving out to kids during the summer.
“We are very appreciative of Dow for accepting us for this grant,” Warren said.
He said several officers are certified for bike patrol, which includes going through endurance and safety tests. The training includes mostly riding, tests in obstacle courses and doing corrective maneuvers in tight areas.
Officers on bicycles are often used for parades, large events like fireworks shows, events in the park and other places that motorized vehicles can’t easily access. Warren said they can be used by school resource officers for summer programs, or to visit children who are playing at the pool.
“It creates incredible visibility,” Warren said. “It’s also a different aspect of policing that offers a flexibility of operations.”
Officers can also put the bikes on the back of their police cars. Warren said he often did that while on patrol. He said they can take their vehicle to an area to unload the bike and quickly get back to their patrol car if needed. Sometimes Warren said it was quicker to respond to a call while on the bicycle.
“I like seeing the police on bicycles,” said Midland resident Ariel Adams. “It makes it easier to talk to them or just say hello. It feels more personal.”
She said once she bought an officer on a bike a coffee, something easier to do than if they are in a police car.