The Special Operations Bike Patrol consists of one sergeant and three officers. They perform administrative duties, training, and maintenance. There are approximately one hundred and twenty bike certified officers at S.O. At any given time there are approximately twenty officers riding in the downtown area.
The bike certification class is a two-part process. Initially, you must complete an eight-hour class or orientation. During this orientation you will ride approximately twenty miles. After completing the orientation, you may take the forty-hour school. Officers wishing to attend this class must be prepared to ride twenty to thirty miles per day and pass a riding test at the end. Needless to say, officers attending this school must be committed.
The bike patrol is outfitted with 26” mountain bikes. The uniform consists of a bike helmet, pullover polo style shirt, and riding pants or shorts, depending on the weather.
The bikes provide numerous advantages to the department and officers. The bikes allow a quiet response great mobility, and can navigate traffic easily as officers are able to make use of sidewalks and allyways too. The cost of a bicycle is much less than a patrol car and the operation and maintenance cost is much less as well. Probably the greatest benefit is public relations, as officers are able to interact with the citizens on routine patrols.
