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Bike Cop Program Several Highland Police Officers who patrol the town will now now be doing so on a special edition police mountain bike. These bikes make the officers more approachable to residents and allow access to places that a patrol car wouldn't be able to reach. |
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This is a big part of Community Policing as it get officers out of the isolation of their cruisers and into the heart of the community, getting to know the people they serve. In return, the people get to know the officers patrolling on their behalf. A bond of respect and trust between the people and their police allows for an environment where a cooperative effort to solves problems results. An officer in a patrol car is highly visible, he can't easily scout back alleyways, parking lots, parks, crowds, and other high-crime areas, and he has difficulty pursuing criminals who don't use a motor vehicle to escape. Unencumbered mobility is just one of the many advantages of police on bikes. This mobility, combined with quietness and small size allows for surprise apprehension of unwary criminals. They allow police greater contact with citizens than patrol cars and have a much greater range than strictly foot patrols. Thus, bicycle patrol units are an excellent match with community-based policing protocols. |
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