White Plains CitizeNetReporter - BPs Hit Streets: Police Introduce First Bike Patrols from 8 AM to Midnight

WPCNR CITY HALL POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. September 18, 2002: The White Plains Police Department launched its first Bike Patrol Unit today presenting 4 of the 10 newly trained bike officers and demonstrating four new Police Bike "Black & Whites" at City Hall.

INTRODUCING THE 2-WHEEL BLACK & WHITES: Mayor Joseph Delfino announces the first White Plains Bike Patrol Unit. Four of the officers and the new "Bike Cruisers" are shown in the City Hall Rotunda this morning. The bikes will patrol the downtown and neighborhoods surrounding the downtown from 8 AM to midnight, seven days a week.
PHOTO BY WPCNR

The patrols were seen cruising around the city today for the first time Wednesday, hitting the bricks at approximately 12 noon. The 10 Bike Officers were trained at no cost to the city by special arrangement with the Greenburgh Police Department, which has had bike patrols for three years, and with the bicycle unit of the New York Police Department.

"With the transformation of our Central Business District well underway, and in anticipation of thousands of new residents living in the downtown area, increasing the already high visible presence is a major part of our ongoing revitalization efforts," said Mayor Joseph Delfino in the launch news conference. "Bike patrols are a highly successful and cost-effective tool for community policing."

The Mayor acknowledged Councilman Glen Hockley's support in being behind the bike patrol initiative, and Council President Benjamin Boykin, who campaigned on the need to bring bike patrols to White Plains, said "It's great to reconnect the police to the community."

The four Cannondale "Cruisers" on display were purchased for $800 each, at a total cost of outfitting the officers of $6,000, which was paid for out of funds acquired by "asset forfeiture," according to Captain Tom Kelly. The bikes retail for $1,200, Kelly said.

Lieutenant Paul Lundin, commenting on the bike specifications, said the bikes have 27 gearspeeds to enable the officers to ascend stairs on the bikes, an electronic shock control to jump curbs, barriers and ascend and descend stairs, among other demands. They are equipped with flashing light and siren. The officers he said had been trained five weeks in cardiovascular management, maneuvering the bike, handling firearms, emergency and defensive situations.

Dr. Frank Straub, Commissioner of Public Safety, who spearheaded the new introduction in just two months on the job, said all ten officers had volunteered for the Bike Patrol and would be under the command of the Patrol Division, however the five officers represented a compliment of law enforcement disciplines, including men from the detective, patrol, and traffic enforcement divisions.

Information from the Mayor's Press Office stated that bike patrols have been successful in curbing crime, especially drug trafficking, larceny, and vandalism in the downtown areas of various cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston and Fort Worth.

Some of the advantages of bike patrols are: maneuverability, speed, stealth, and the increased visibility of police officers in the community. The mountain bikes go places patrol cars and motorcycles cannot, and do so quietly. They allow officers to move quickly from one area to another, maintaining close contact with the community.


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