In the early spring of 1995, several officers with the Abilene Police Department proposed the forming of a Police Bicycle Unit. The plan was simply stated; if the administration would allow the officers to form the unit, the officers would provide their own equipment, uniforms, etc., and would work for compensated time. The officers told the department that the unit would work, would make the department look good, and that the pilot program wouldn't cost the department any funds. Chief Melvin Martin readily saw the merits of such a program, and in March 1995 five officers organized the unit. Perhaps the greatest selling point of having a bicycle officer is that it places the officer in direct contact with the public he serves.
The Abilene Police Department Bicycle Unit was set up in a
unique fashion. Even though Bicycle Units in other cities such as
Dallas and Ft. Worth were looked at, those cities have very
different problems and problem areas (such as congested downtown
areas) and therefore their programs were not totally applicable
to our situation. The pilot program for our unit was set up to
see if the need was justified to use officers for bicycle work.
The Bike Unit is made up of volunteers from throughout the department. Since each of the members works a regular 40 hour assignment, bike work is done primarily on off-duty time. We work a four day / ten hour shift with three days off. The compensated time accumulated by members of the Bike Unit is often "paid back" during the day scheduled for directed assignments. The idea was that the Bike Unit's work would not take officers off patrol where they are needed.
Originally, the bikes were used for civic functions, such as parades, charity walks, and special programs at the Coliseum. Chief Martin has stated that the bikes have been the most effective public relations tool in the department's history. The public response at civic events has been incredible. The Bike Unit officers have been exceptionally well received.
Our success has not been limited to just civic events. In the private sector, several large car lots were having costly vandalism and theft problems. Their lots were large, encompassing entire city blocks, and were closed to anything but foot traffic with fencing. This fencing made standard police patrols difficult and therefore criminal activity at the lots was substantial. One of the Bike Unit officers contacted the dealerships about placing off-duty bike officers in the car lots. The objectives were twofold. First, the visible night patrols of bike officers added a perception of safety to patrons who frequented the lots in the evenings. Second, the bikes would be effective in deterring or apprehending thieves and vandals. In the ten month period since the Bike Unit starting working the car dealerships, there has only been one incident of vandalism.
These situations proved that officers on bikes were extremely successful for civic functions and for security in the private sector. However, the unit was wanting to establish itself as a viable policing tool. This opportunity presented itself when the department started getting complaints about problems in one particular section of downtown. The area in question was about a six block section of downtown and hosted three nightclubs, two coffee shops, an ice cream parlor, and a bus depot. It proved to be an ideal place to police on bikes, and therefore officers were placed in this area on weekends for overtime money. Officers working this detail have made marijuana drug arrests and even a DWI arrest. The unit therefore was recognized as being a legitimate part of the policing structure of the department.
Original equipment for the unit consisted of some personally owned bikes and some bikes from the Property Section. The bikes were painted and worked on by members of the unit. In time, the need to expand the unit to ten officers was realized. As a result of some subtle campaigning, a private donor provided the unit with six new Trek 7000 police bikes at a cost of $600 each. Another organization was aware of needs and donated $1000 to be used to purchase racks, bags, and lights for the bikes.
Uniforms were originally made by cutting off uniform pants into shorts. These modified uniforms looked alright but were not appropriate for bike riding. After a year in those uniforms, the department stepped in and purchased some excellent bike uniforms, including winter pants. This money was the first money that was provided by the department. The first year cost the department nothing.
Originally set up as a pilot program, the effectiveness of such an approach to policing has now been proven. The department is now purchasing a bike to replace one of marginal quality that had been used, and a federal grant has been obtained for 1000 hours of overtime dollars to be used in the next two years for the unit. The unit's goal is to establish itself as such a necessary tool that the department would establish a full time four-officer bike unit. The remaining six officers in the Bike Unit would continue to serve in the volunteer program to augment the full time unit.
The Bike Unit has proven to be so popular and successful that the police departments of two local universities have organized bike units, and the ambulance service has begun to use bikes at large civic functions. Our training began with the Dallas Police Department's Bike Unit, and two officers from the unit attended training at that city when the unit first started.
The Abilene Police Department Bike Unit was the dream of Lt. Craig Fullerton. Chief Martin was quick to see the potential in the use of the patrol and he has continued to be supportive of the program. The unit is an example of how a medium size city can benefit from a program tailored to the needs of the community. It doesn't reduce the number of officers on patrol and is an extremely successful and valuable public relations tool. The key to a successful unit is to select officers who excel with people and who genuinely care about the people they serve.
Almost any city can benefit from policing on bikes as long as it tailors the program to the city's needs. Begin with a few resourceful officers who take an aggressive approach to reaching their community. The costs to implement bikes on a trial basis can be very minimal, and it allows a department to measure the community's receptiveness to the program. Our city and department have been completely receptive to the Bike Unit. For further information or questions about our unit, please contact:
e-mail: apd@abilenetx.com