NCJ Number
191783
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2001 Pages: 80-84
Date Published
April 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Volunteer Bike Unit of the East Bay Regional Park Police (California) provides additional park patrol coverage in areas that regular park police have neither the time nor the resources to patrol.
Abstract
Bike patrollers perform a variety of tasks, including handing out brochures and maps to park users, providing traffic control at special events, and explaining the park rules to visitors. Some bike patrollers are occasionally asked to assist park officers in undercover operations, so long as they are not placed in unsafe situations. In addition to communications gear, patrollers carry such tools as a patch kit, a bike tire tube, and a host of other items that may be needed in emergencies. Patrollers are required to attend at least 7 of the 10 annual scheduled meetings, participate in at least one special event annually, and log at least 8 hours of patrol time each month. Each applicant is required to pass a checkride with designated patrol trainers. Once volunteers have been accepted, they can ride in any park in the district or on any trail where civilians are allowed to ride bicycles; they can select when and where they ride. Dispatchers check on the patroller if he/she does not call in at the expected end of patrol time.