Police to use bikes for summer patrols
by ELLEN MATIS, The Indiana Gazette, on June 03, 2015 10:58 AM
HOMER CITY — Residents of Homer City Borough may now see members of the police department patrolling on bicycles during local events.
Police Chief Louis Sacco reported at council’s meeting Tuesday that bicycles the department owns received tune-ups, allowing them to be used this summer at events such as the Hoodlebug Festival.
“We have four officers that are trained through the International Police Mountain Bike Association and we’ve had them in service before,” Sacco said. “We utilize (the bikes) mostly during the summer because they’re helpful during events.”
Sacco said that not only are the bikes a stealthier option for the department, but they allow the officers to connect more with the community.
“It’s a version of community-oriented policing,” Sacco said. “When you’re riding a bicycle … you’re actually communicating with the public.”
According to the IPMBA website, bicycles are “one of the most versatile tools in law enforcement … and experience has shown that citizens are more likely to approach a bike patrol officer than even a neighborhood beat officer.”
In addition, the site states that bicycle officers are better able to use all of their senses to detect and address crime.
Also on the police front, Sgt. Tony Jellison announced Tuesday that the department will hold a women’s self-defense shooting class.
Borough council granted Jellison permission to use the borough office for the classroom portion of the class, which will run four to six weeks.
Because participants of the class are required to have their own handguns and ammunition, there will be no cost for the training. It is open only to women over age 21.
“A couple of other municipalities have (held the class) and have had a good turnout, so we thought we would expand it up this way,” Jellison said.
The dates of the class have not yet been determined.