HPD mountain bike patrol puts the training wheels on

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

A HPD bike patrol officer goes through certification courses from the International Police Mountain Bike Association

There are just a few places a bike patrol officer should not be called to, according to John Koelsch, Lyon County Undersheriff and Instructor for the International Police Mountain Bike Association.

“It’s not a good thing to send a bike officer on a dog call, for obvious reasons,” Koelsch said, “Other than that, an officer on a bike can do almost everything an officer in a car can.”

That is why Koelsch is in Hays this week to train the nine-member Hays Bike Patrol Team and two officers from Fort Hays State University’s police department as certified public safety cyclists from IPMBA.

Koelsch said the training includes learning to safely maneuver a police mountain bike through crowds, safely pull over a car and learn to fire a gun from a mountain bike.

However, he said, the one of the most important aspects of being a good bike officer is learning to be approachable and interact with the public.

Drill to enhance policing in crowds or small spaces. — Drill to enhance biking skills in crowds or small spaces.

“For a bike officer … there is more of an opportunity to interact with the community. That’s one of the things we teach in this class,” Koelsch said “I emphasize ‘Let’s talk with the public. You are ambassadors for this community, and that is a very important role.’

“Without the community being a part of the public safety solution,” he added, “in every community, the police are not as effective. The community is really the biggest partner in having a safe community.”

Clayton Hill, HPD bike patrol officer, has been on the HPD bike patrol for 10 years and said he enjoys the ability to interact with the community and go places a patrol car can’t.

“Everyone out here knows how to ride a bike, but when it comes to riding a bike in a law enforcement or in a police atmosphere, that requires … special training,” he said. “It is no different than a taser or a firearm or our patrol cars — there are certain rules and procedures you have to follow when it comes to police mountain biking.”

HPD Officer Tom Graham is “rookie” on the bike patrol and recently volunteered for the assignment.

“It is an opportunity to do more community oriented policing,” he said. “You get out there, you see, you hear, you smell things you normally wouldn’t in a police car. … It’s a good way to be more visible in the community, be more personable. I think we are going to start seeing more bike officers out there in Hays.”