Beware crooks: Bike patrol on the prowl

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HOT WHEELS- Officer Bob Berger, of the new police bicycle patrol unit, speeds to his duties.

Bicycle patrol officers are an important new component of the Moorpark Police Department. These officers can enforce the law due to mobility and stealth. The Bicycle Patrol program provides the city with a community-oriented crime prevention tool. While designed to handle specific policerelated responsibilities, the goal of this program is to facilitate a partnership between the police department and the community. Bike Patrols are useful in community policing efforts because they are generally perceived as less authoritarian than officers in patrol cars.

The objectives of this program include enhancing community relations, crime prevention, promoting bicycle safety, assisting with special events and patrol of residential, business and park areas.

Each bicycle is equipped with many of the same items found in a police vehicle, including first aid supplies and other items needed for officers to perform their duties.

The bicycle patrol will give officers an effective method of detecting crime and apprehending criminals while allowing them the opportunity to communicate with residents more frequently than occurs when patrolling in a police vehicle.

The team has 10 certified bike officers who share three bikes. The bike patrol will operate on a part-time basis and is capable of riding in nearly all weather conditions. The bike team will generally operate as a twoperson team unless deployed during a special event.

All bike officers are certified through a Peace Officer Standards and Training Bicycle Patrol School.

The law enforcement bicycle course consists of three days of specialized instruction. During the course the deputies learn skills such as balance, obstacle avoidance, dismounts, curb and stair ascends and descends, special patrol techniques, road and group riding, nutrition and bike maintenance.

The police bikes are specially built for the rigors of police work and are designed for high performance riding on and off the road.

Bikes are equipped with a police package lighting system, which includes red, blue and white strobe lights, siren, pedal retention system, suspension system, cyclometer and equipment bags to carry the necessary items the officer would need while on patrol.

Bike patrol officers are issued sheriff green shorts and a tan polo shirt containing sheriff insignia. The officers' helmets are white in color with sheriff insignia on the left and right sides of the helmet.

The issued bike unit equipment, training and deployment are funded by the city of Moorpark.

The Bike Patrol members are Senior Dep. Bob Berger, Dep. Bobby Burckhard, Dep. Miguel Gonzalez, Dep. Tim Lohman, Dep. Leonard Lopez, Dep. Kelly Roark, Dep. Mike Rompal, Dep. Cesar Salas, Dep. Amy Ward, Dep. Jerin Widofsky and Dep. Brian Whittaker.