Bicycle Unit
The Wayne County Community College District's District Police Authority Department's Bicycle Unit was established in 2001. The officers volunteered for this unit, completed a 40-hour basic mountain bike officer course at the Detroit Metropolitan Police Academy, and obtained national certification from the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association.
The department has found that the bicycle unit is also good for public relations in addition to being a valuable crime prevention tool. "When officers are patrolling on a bicycle, they have more opportunities to interact with students, faculty, and staff, and they get to know them better."
Bicycle patrol has emerged as an effective way to patrol today's communities and provides the following benefits:
- Allows an officer to cover more territory
- Provides increased visibility creating a greater sense of security for students, faculty, and staff
- Provides less of a barrier than an automobile while improving community relations and serving our students, faculty, and staff
- Allows officers to get into areas that normally are not easily accessible by patrol vehicles
- Allows the officers to “sneak up” on suspicious activity
- Bicycle patrols are cost-effective
- Promotes healthier officers
If you want additional information on the bicycle patrol unit, please call 313-496-2650.
