Wilson County News - Top Stories - Department unveils fit, fuel-efficient bicycle patrol unit

Floresville�s new bike patrol unit, which consists of patrolmen Ruben San Miguel Jr. (left) and Eric Hutchinson, will be an active part of daily law- enforcement activity in the city, as well as patrol for special events such as Market Day May 3, which was also attended by Assistant Chief Andy Joslin. WCN/SUSAN HODGES

June 24, 2008
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FLORESVILLE -- Take that, high gas prices!

With the local price of regular gasoline inching dangerously close to $4 per gallon, it is nice to know at least two officers from the Floresville Police Department won�t have to worry.

By now, some area residents have taken notice of the newest addition to the department. A new bike patrol unit, which took to the streets earlier this year, uses no gasoline, while helping its officers to fight crime and interact with the public.

Patrolman Eric Hutchinson, who was the first to volunteer for the team, said curbing fuel consumption was not the initial motivation behind forming the bike patrol. But the ability to go less than 11 miles on 1 gallon of gasoline in his Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor edition squad car makes the bicycle more appealing.

But before simply putting on the helmet and gloves and hopping aboard the seats of their bikes, Hutchinson and fellow bike patrol officer, Patrolman Ruben San Miguel Jr., had to endure a 40-hour training course at San Antonio College�s Law Enforcement Training Center.

�We rode 26 miles from San Antonio College to the San Antonio Police Academy one night,� Hutchinson said. �We did off-road training in McAllister Park near Jones-Maltsberger.�

Part of the final exam dealt with maneuvering the bicycle in a large crowd.

�We had to ride six blocks on the sidewalk in downtown San Antonio on a Friday night without hitting anybody,� Hutchinson said.

Training like that will come in handy for special events, such as Market Day, the Fourth of July, the annual Peanut Festival, and Fall Fest, Hutchinson said.

�I used [the bicycle] graduation night at Floresville High,� he said. �It was a big advantage because it was much faster than walking around the whole outside of the football field.�

In daily patrol, Hutchinson said, the bicycle has numerous practical advantages.

�If you�re driving along in a car with the windows up, you can�t hear someone say �hi� to you,� he said. �And it keeps you physically fit.�

Hutchinson added, �You do notice more of what�s going on around you on the bike because you�re out in the open.�

The bicycle patrol will also help officers get into some of the places where a squad car cannot fit, such as some of the narrow alleys in the downtown area.

�You don�t know what�s going on in some of those back alleys,� Hutchinson said. �But with the bike, you can sneak up on someone very stealthily, because it�s not loud like a car.�

Similar to the way a police squad car is different to a standard sedan, Floresville�s bike patrol unit does not use a typical bicycle. Hutchinson said the Smith & Wesson police mountain bikes, which cost approximately $700 each, come equipped with strobe lights, a siren, and on-board computer.

�The computer is mainly for our benefit, to keep track of how many miles we ride so we can report it to the chief,� he said.

Funding for the bicycles was made possible through the department�s drug forfeiture fund, Hutchinson said, which comes from money and property seized in the local War on Drugs. Several departments nationwide have similar accounts, which can be used to purchase equipment or other necessary improvements for the department without having to rely solely on tax money.

�We got the money from drug seizures and put the money back into the community,� he said.

Assistant Chief Andy Joslin said the new bike patrol is all part of the department�s effort to increase public accessibility.

�We want to monitor it to see if we�ll increase the amount of officers involved, and to see what other special services we want to provide,� he said.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Daniel Tejada and the Floresville City Council, Joslin said he is currently researching the cost-effectiveness of starting a motorcycle patrol for traffic enforcement.

Your Opinions and Comments

FV Floresville June 30, 2008 3:32pm	Report Abuse Good to see the P.D. moving forward. Thanks Chief Martinez and Asst. Chief Joslin!

Monica Quiroga
Floresville
June 25, 2008 3:42pm

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I for one think it's a great idea. Bikes can get to places that people are travelling on foot, don't use gasoline, and help keep our department healthier. This should save ... Read More