Pine Bluff police bring back bike patrols to boost community engagement
by Emma Allen, KATV, June 5, 2024
Photo: Pine Bluff police bring back bike patrols to boost community engagement(Photo courtesy: Pine Bluff Police Department)
PINE BLUFF AR (KATV) — Pine Bluff police officers are going from four wheels to two as part of a community policing initiative.
"On bike patrol we go around and we are very community engaged," said Assistant Chief Kelven Hadley. "We love to go out and ride and meet the citizens."
Hadley has been with the Pine Bluff Police Department for 29 years and has always been a fan of bike patrolling. He said when community members see the officers on bikes instead of cars in their neighborhoods, they are more likely to approach the officers and greet them.
Bike patrol was a thing of the past for the men in blue but after hearing from many members of the Pine Bluff community they decided it was time to bring it back.
"We wanted to bring bike patrol back because the community was truly asking for it," said Hadley. "The only reason why we disbanded the first time was because through bike patrol we were able to promote several officers."
The public should not think bike patrolling will stop them from completing their normal duties.
"The bikes are equipped with lights," said Hadley. "You can pull someone over. For those individuals who want to try to outrun the bike, and of course, you can outrun a bike in a vehicle, nothing is quicker than that radio."
Hadley said a patrol unit would be called to transport the individual if officers needed to take someone to jail.
Becoming a bike patrol officer is not a walk in the park, "There are some intense moments in biking that you have to be prepared for such as riding up and down stairs and especially the long rides," said Hadley. "I think we were probably averaging right at around 20 miles a day."
Sergeant Donald Griffin said the police department gives away bikes every year to kids in the community.
He hopes the bike giveaways and bike patrols will inspire kids to become police officers.
“We actually give away the bikes and we want all kids to be the police and be productive in their community," said Griffin. "Anytime we can do anything, we are going to give back at all times."