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Bicycle Patrol
The Bike patrol now consists of 40 officers. The bike patrol officers ride from March through November covering
all hours on routine patrol and then ride the month of December at local shopping malls to provide additional security for shoppers during the holiday season.
History
In the spring of 1994 a walking beat was begun as an attempt to begin Community Oriented Policing in Cedar Rapids. This was effective in getting the officers out to meet the public, but the officers were limited in their effectiveness against crime. For that reason, in the spring of 1995, the Cedar Rapids police Department began a bike patrol unit. This unit consisted of one sergeant and two officers. The officers worked the 1500-2300 shift and concentrated their efforts on the Wellington Heights and Moundview neighborhoods. While the officers were still out in the open and easily accessible to the public, they had the advantage of being very mobile and stealthy as well. As departments have learned throughout the country, bike patrols are very effective in dealing with crimes that take place where police cars cannot go, or where they cannot go without being noticed.
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Equipment
The department utilizes fully equipped Trek and Cannondale
Police Mountain bikes.
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OFFICER TRAINING and INSTRUCTION
All bike patrol officers are certified
as Police Cyclists. The department maintains their own
certified trainers who received their certification through
the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. The course consists
of both classroom and on-bike time. Topics include bike
nomenclature, legal issues, patrol tactics, and maneuvers,
complete a course of fire at the firing range and a 25 mile
ride.
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HOW TO CONTACT THE BICYCLE PATROL
You can either call or
e-mail
Lieutenant Tom Jonker at (319) 286-5338.
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