COPS ON BIKES
The
Falmouth Police Department Mountain Bike Patrol Unit is a community policing
initiative designed to create and foster healthy relationships with the law
abiding public. Other such initiatives include Crime Watch, Walking Beat
Officers, National Night Out, School Resources Officer, Police Open House and
the Citizens Police Academy.
One
very important statistic that has remained constant in the history of Law
Enforcement is that only 15% of the population is responsible for 100% of the
crime rate. Which means that 85% of the public are law abiding!
Traditionally,
police were trained to be suspicious of everyone, and for the most part were
cold and careless in their relations with the public. Citizens felt isolated
from the police and were unwilling to help the police in suppressing crime and
solving community problems. Community Policing seeks to restore those relations
and form partnerships with the 85% law abiding public to help combat crime and
solve those problems.
Mountain
Bike Patrol is a community policing initiative in that it removes the officer
from a 2,000 lb. isolation chamber, known as a cruiser, and places him on a
bicycle and into the public eye.
The
Falmouth Police Bicycle Patrol Unit was first established in 1993 and is open to
all officers in the department. There are two main "Beats" that the
unit patrols during the day. Common to these two areas is that they are highly
populated and congested in the summer months and ideal for police visibility and
policecitizen contact.
Mountain
Bike Patrol Officers are encouraged to initiate friendly contacts with the
public, attend special events, visit playgrounds, educate citizens on bicycle
safety, and help tourists with directions. These officers can also perform
several Law Enforcement functions as well. Officers typically stop motor vehicle
violators, issue parking violations, respond to calls for service, render first
aid and respond to crimes in progress.
Some
distinct enforcement advantages to the Mountain Bike Patrol Unit are that we can
respond quicker in congested areas, we offer a silent approach to the crime scene, we have
more accessibility; we can patrol streets, sidewalks, alleys, trails and many
places that a cruiser can't go.
All
officers are required to wear safety helmets when riding. The law requires that
anyone 12 years old or younger must wear a helmet but the bike patrol unit
strongly suggests that anyone planning to ride a bicycle should also plan on
wearing a helmet!!
Sgt.
Jeffrey P. Smith
Bike Patrol Coordinator
This page last updated on Monday, June 29, 2009