Lac La Biche’s Law Enforcement Training program is rolling out a new module. The first session was held at the start of the month.
From July 4 – 6, a group of six peace officers — three from Lac La Biche County and three from Red Deer — were put through their paces in an intensive course designed to equip them with the skills needed to safely operate bicycles while carrying out their duties.
“Peace officers use bikes regularly,” says Chris Clark, the director of the law enforcement training program for Lac La Biche County Enforcement Services, explaining that the training covers municipal and off-road riding.
“Once they complete this course, three of our staff will be able to hit the trails and begin doing patrols,” he told Lakeland This Week.
Throughout the training, officers were instructed in safe riding practices and procedures, including how to mount and dismount a bike very quickly, as well as proper bicycle maintenance. The officers were also trained on utilizing the bikes as another tool in their law enforcement inventory.
“Bikes are often utilized as an effective crowd control measure and officers can use them to create barriers, should a particular situation call for such course of action,” Clark said.
In one module of the training, the officers participated in an exercise where a narrow path of yellow cones simulated a road, one which they were required successfully navigate while dodging obstacles.
The officers were also taught how to safely manoeuver their way through heavy traffic while avoiding a collision, as well as methods to effectively arresting a suspect while conducting a routine bike patrol.
Increased coverage
In addition to providing greater accessibility to hard-to-reach places such as backwoods trails, pathways, and park areas, bicycles bring a closer interaction between police and the communities they serve, says Clark.
“We typically use bikes to better engage with the public, especially during large community events,” Clark explained. “
The bike training module is one of many training sessions offered through the Lac La Biche County Law Enforcement Training program. The program operates in partnership with the municipality, Portage College and Alberta Justice.
