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
Flights divert around western Iran as one report says explosions heard near Isfahan
Commercial flights began diverting their routes early Friday morning over western Iran without explanation as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic claimed there had been 'explosions' heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged 'loud noise.'
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.