North Bay Police summer bike patrol program begins this week
The North Bay Police Service is getting set to launch its bike patrol program for the summer months.
Twelve officers have been trained on the bicycles and will start patrolling the downtown and trail areas on June 1.
“It’s more than it looks like. There’s a lot of tight turns and maneuverability and how to balance on the bike, full stops, how to do our job as a police officer with respect to being on a bicycle,” said Const. Austen Kooy.
“It was packed training, trail riding and closing down intersections to direct traffic as a police officer on a bicycle.”
Inspector Jeff Warner told CTV News they have officers trained for the program on each of the police service’s four platoons.
“We have our community engagements officers trained as well, they work day shifts Monday to Friday so they will be out there as well,” said Warner.
The training was provided by members of the Ottawa Police Service.
This year’s program in North Bay will see officers patrolling on trails, in the downtown and also in the West Ferris area.
“It makes us more adaptable for trail riding and to get into those places that a cruiser can’t,” said Kooy.
“There’s certain calls where we have a snowmobile or an ATV on a pathway we wouldn’t be able to do that with the car we’d have to park and walk a long distance, so it makes us a little bit more effective that way.”
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Police officials said the bike patrol program also allows the officers to engage with the community easily.
“We get a great response from the community they like to see the officers visible downtown, on the bikes doing the back allies the patrols,” said Warner.
“It makes them a little more accessible to the general public too. They can stop and chat with store merchants, stores downtown, and generally engage with the public.”
The bicycles police are using are electric assist and can go up to 42 kilometres per hour. Each bike is also equipped with lights and sirens.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.