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Police Bike Patrol

Bicycle patrol officers are an important component of this department’s strategy for accomplishing its enforcement objectives due to their mobility and stealth as well as their ability to facilitate a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention operations. They are also advantageous in community policing efforts because they are generally perceived as less authoritarian than officers in police motor vehicles. They are often utilized in the downtown district and for directed patrols.

The Police Department's bike patrol currently consists of more than a dozen police officers that have been trained at an approved Department of Criminal Justices Services Police Bicycle Patrol Course. All certified bike patrol officers are required to complete an annual re-certification of their biking skills through an in-service training course. The department's police bicycle instructor, Officer Anthony Straus, is seen pictured below with officers during the annual in-service training in May of 2008. The officers took time out on Broadway to visit with a young citizen of the community, and provided him an opportunity to try out one of the officer's patrol bike. Pictured below are Traffic Safety Sergeant Tom Mitchell, DARE Officer Tony Straus, Officer Andy Prestigiacomo, Jack Muratti, Sergeant Sean Briscoe, Officer Dan Noeker, and Officer Glen Barrett.

A reprint of the eMail received from Jack Muratti's grandmother, Nancy Patnode:

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------

From: "Patnode" <xxxxxxx@nycap.rr.com>

Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:56:01 -0400

Dear Sean,

I'm sending you the pictures taken with my grandson Jack Murratti today.

Thank you and all the officers for your kindness. Jack has not stopped talking about sitting on the bike and having his picture taken. We are all very lucky to have such caring people looking out for us.

Keep safe

Sincerely, Nancy Patnode

For equipment, the bike patrol has eight bicycles; Two Police Cannondales and six custom hand-made titanium frame Serotta Police Service bikes. The Serotta Police Service bikes were donated to our department by the Serotta Company located on Geyser Road here in Saratoga Springs. They are manufactures of world class bicycles and are in the process of building 2 more bikes for our use in the Bike Patrol. Pictured at left is one of the Serotta Police Service bikes that was donated by the Serotta Company.

Before attending the patrol bike certification course, every officer candidate must have participated and passed the annual department health and physical fitness standards to be eligible for selection to the bike patrol program. Candidates must then undergo additional screening exams;

	Complete and pass the three-minute step test administered by the department authorized fitness professional; then
	A cycling-specific physical fitness test (below) using recovery heart rate, administered by a qualified fitness professional authorized by this department

Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) equals 220 - age. On a stationary bicycle, the officer pedals at sufficient speed and intensity to elevate his or her heart rate to 80% of the MHR. This intensity level is sustained for 20 consecutive minutes. Should the heart rate fall below 80% MHR, one or two grace drops can be allowed; however, if the HR drops below 80% MHR a third time the candidate should be disqualified. After 20 consecutive minutes of 80% MHR the candidate stops pedaling. The candidate's heart rate must recover to 120 beats per minute or less, within 120 seconds.

A three-mile time trial consists of a three-mile designated course, preferably flat and with minimal turns, free from traffic interference or other safety issues. The officer must complete the three-mile course in less than 12:30.

A medically supervised cardiovascular stress test gives a medically proven indication that an officer can safely engage in physical police cycling activity on a regular basis.

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Send mail to webmaster@saratogapolice.org with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 02/21/09

Send mail to webmaster@saratogapolice.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 02/21/09