Bike Patrol

The Oneonta Police Department bike patrol was founded in the Fall of 1991 with Officers Steven Havens and Dave Watson patrolling the city on the department's two new TREK police bicycles.  The department now has six TREK mountain bikes and six trained bike officers.  The bike patrol is supervised by Sgt. George Flavell and consists of Sgt. Ralph Pajerski and Officers Anthony D' Agostino, Jeffrey Gallusser, Joe Tiemann and Eric Berger.  The bike officers are usually out in pairs on weekend nights during the Fall and Spring and ride solo during the day and evening over the summer.  (Pictured above are:  Sgt. Flavell, Officer Berger, and Officer Gallusser)

The officers attend a one week bicycle patrol school that includes educational and practical instruction on the operation of mountain bikes, fitness, nutrition, techniques, and application of community policing strategies.  The practical instruction on the operation of mountain bikes includes such training as riding over obstacles, going up and down stairs, safe bicycling in large groups and in traffic, bicycling in confined areas, use of the bicycle to subdue offenders and firearms manipulation while on bike patrol.

The bike patrol has proven to be highly effective at catching offenders in cases ranging from minor violations of city ordinances such as open containers and unlawful possession of alcohol to more serious crimes such as driving while intoxicated and assault.  The mobility of the bicycle allows the officers to patrol areas that are inaccessible to patrol vehicles while at the same time covering a larger area than a foot patrol.  While easily identifiable in their reflective bike uniforms and police gear, the silence of the bikes as well as their ability to ride off the roadways allows officers to approach people and complaints with a degree of stealth patrol vehicles can't achieve.

Bike officers also perform community services such as instructing at bike rodeos for children and providing security and traffic control for parades and community events.  They have the ability to interact with more city residents and visitors and serve as another means of promoting the community policing philosophy to which the Oneonta Police Department is committed.

(Pictured above left are:  Officers Berger and Gallusser at OH Fest 2010 and pictured bottom right are:  Sgt. Pajerski and Officer D'Agostino, St. Patrick's Day, 2008)