By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
SHIPPENSBURG — As the snow melts away, Shippensburg residents can expect to see some borough police officers rolling around on two wheels instead of four.
Shippensburg Police officers Thomas Young, left, and Brad Goyt prepare for a bike patrol. The department ran several bike patrols last fall and will soon begin again on regular basis. (Courtesy)
Shippensburg Police will begin bicycle patrols as soon as the weather allows it, which Chief Fred Scott said he expects to be next week. They could have started sooner, but this week’s snow set back that plan, he said.
There will likely be two bike patrol shifts a week at first, said Officer Thomas Young. More shifts may be added as the weather continues to warm up.
Young spearheaded the officer-led initiative to bring back bike patrols from their brief use in the 1990s, Scott said.
Improvement in mobility and community engagement are the two expected benefits of bike patrols.
Young likes to be social while on patrol, and feels riding a bike makes him more approachable than if he is in a patrol car.
“People are curious and want to talk to you too,” Young said.
A bike can help an officer move through town more quickly than walking or driving, Scott said. It can maneuver through spaces where a car may not fit or be allowed.
Also, being on a bike allows an officer to get somewhere more quickly than if they were walking and had to return to a patrol car to report to an incident.
“Last year an officer on a bike was farther away but got to an incident faster (than a patrol car),” Scott said.
He is referring to a short time period last fall in which the department conducted bike patrols for several shifts but had to stop once it got too cold. The hiatus allowed the department to get equipment and get officers in state-required training.
Three officers — Young, his fellow full-time officer Brad Goyt and part-time officer Charles Pyatt — are certified to conduct bike patrols, Scott said.
They recently completed training that is offered for free at U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Scott said. The training covered basic knowledge of maneuvering a bike for police work, such as how to get on and off quickly, Young said.
There is a bike available for each of the three officers, Scott said. The department had one from patrols in the 90s, and bought two new ones and gear using donations, Scott said.
The three officers can do bike patrols anytime as long as there is an officer available to operate a patrol car, Young said.
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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.