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The 86th Security Forces Squadron recently added a number of bicycle patrols to the Ramstein law enforcement fleet. In the past few months many people may have seen the patrolmen in their new special duty uniforms bearing the weather as they patrol without the comfort of an automobile. The unit hasn’t
had an active bike patrol program since 2006.
“The bike patrol made a lot of sense here due to the size of the base and population density. The intent for the bike patrol is to engage in community-oriented policing in and around housing, schools, the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center and mass gathering events where a vehicle would make response problematic,” said Capt. Eric Stevens, 86th SFS operations officer.
The bike patrol has given security forces patrolmen several advantages to the standard law enforcement sedan.
Being less conspicuous to speeders and drivers talking on their cell phones has enabled bike patrolmen to issue more citations than the usual patrols. The mountain bikes also enable the patrol to arrive to some situations faster than other emergency response vehicles due to their ability to bypass
traffic and go off-road.
“We have better situational awareness on the bikes, we notice more of what is going on around us, and it is easier for us to interact with others,” said Staff Sgt. Jacob See, one of the bicycle patrolmen for the 86th SFS. “However, extreme weather and higher speeds are some limitations for the bike patrol where a climate-controlled, motorized vehicle just can’t be beat.”
Physical fitness is key for the patrolmen as they can easily cover more than 20 miles on an average day.
“Ramstein has a lot more hills than I thought it did,” said patrolman Senior Airman Tyler Verhasselt. “The bike was a serious workout at first, but after a few weeks on patrol, I’m in better shape than ever.”
The bikes have been specially outfitted with all the necessary gear, including lights, sirens, a radar gun and other equipment. More than $13,000 in funding was provided by the 86th Mission Support Group in order to purchase all the necessary equipment to get the program started. The bikes were purchased locally.
With six bikes added to the security forces fleet, flights are posting multiple bike patrols daily, weather permitting.
In the two months since its inception, the 86th SFS bike patrol has been very effective in policing the base.
“The approachability of our bike patrols allows for instant feedback from the base populous resulting in immediate action to mitigate safety and security concerns,” said Lt. Col. Philip Holmes, 86th SFS commander.
The bike patrol will continue to be a valuable initiative to keep the community safe. Feel free to approach these defenders to communicate any suspicious activity or safety concerns. Together we can continuously improve the quality of life in our Ramstein community.
