New officers bike onto U. Police force

Eight new University Police bicycle patrol officers are set to join the 12-person unit -- that is, as soon as they receive their bikes. University Police Sgt. John Washington -- who has been with the unit since it was formed --Ewas responsible for training the new bike patrol officers, as well as officers from police departments throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The officers received 24 hours of training which included classroom exercises, outdoor practice and 15-mile rides over a three-day period last week. "It's a different experience, different tactics and a different style of police work," University Police Officer Phil Lydon said. Lydon, like many of the University's other bike patrol trainees, cited the possibility for increased interaction with students as one of his primary reasons for joining the unit. "People like seeing you on a bike," University Police officer Fred Riccelli explained. "It's good public relations and a good tool for deterring crime." Washington and the trainees also emphasized the rapid response abilities of bike patrol officers, who can speed to a crime scene and pursue suspects into alleys and through crowded areas. And by traveling around campus wearing bicycle helmets and obeying bicycle traffic laws, the officers believe they can teach community members about bicycle safety. Riccelli also noted that bike patrol officers are able to employ the element of surprise, as "criminals don't expect a cop on a bike" and police can "blend in" with the student population. Although it might seem difficult to pursue and arrest criminals while balancing on two wheels, bike patrol training emphasizes how use the bike as a tool. For example, Washington taught the trainees how to overcome obstacles such as stairs and curbs, as well as how to handle tactical situations such as the confrontation of possible car thieves. In the past five years, Washington's bike patrol training has drawn officers from 24 regional police departments, university police forces and mall security units. Last week, officers from Montgomery County, Chalfont Bureau, West Whiteland, the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Deptford, N.J., took part in the two three-day training sessions. The new University Police bike patrol officers bring a variety of career experiences to the unit. Riccelli, for example, joined the University's bike patrol unit shortly after it began in 1992, Lydon is a five-year veteran of the force and trainee Cheryl Graham just joined the force in March.