TRENDING Defensive and Force Tactics for Bicycle Patrol


as the officer approaches while riding, during the initial part of the dis- mount, or once the offi- cer is fully dismounted. Scenarios should be practiced with the police cyclist as a single patrol unit or with officers in pairs/multiples. If the suspect flees


while the officer is still riding, the officer should radio the running subject and begin the chase. If there are two officers on bike, one officer should begin the chase and the other should slow down, broadcast the fleeing suspect, and then join the chase. The second officer stays in the foot chase (chasing on bike), but periodically slows to update radio traffic. The ‘suspect’ will flee and the officer gives chase, then uses an emergency dis- mount before running up and ‘touching’ the role player. The bi- cycle patrol skill is being practiced and tested at this point, not take-downs. Multiple bike officer contact and


Transition from dismount to striking skills.


cover tactics should use one officer as contact (voice/hand, contact/radio) while the second officer remains off- set from the subject, on the bike with one foot on the ground and another foot in the ‘power pedal’ position. The cover officer should be in a position to quickly dismount the patrol bike or begin riding after the suspect if he/she flees on foot. When practicing cover officer tactics, the cover officer should practice scanning the subject or subjects, terrain, and surroundings for any possible threats. With multiple bike offi cers, when a suspect runs, the on-bike/cover offi cer starts the chase and the off-bike offi cer will broadcast the initial direction of the chase and other information to other units and dispatch. Once the role player is caught, the cover offi cer will execute an emergency dismount, then run up and touch the role player. A full force take-down during the training is not


52 LAW and ORDER I April 2016


necessary, but a real offender will likely be shoved to the ground. The coordina- tion and skills involved should be prac- ticed at a speed that allows the offi cers to demonstrate profi ciency before full- speed efforts are practiced. Drills for fl eeing suspects should be


set up in a wide-open area, most likely not open to the public, and require a role player (fl eeing suspect) and offi cers with patrol bikes. Red Guns, Blue Guns, or obviously inert weapons should be used and great caution should be taken to not have live weapons in the force-based scenario training.


Transition to Empty Hand Techniques Practice drills of transitioning from a moving patrol bicycle to engaging a suspect with empty hand techniques are considered a moderate to high dif- ficulty skill that requires more than the basic ability to ride and dismount a bicycle. A role player holding a strike pad or a quality punching bag or dummy is needed. The bike patrol officer will ride to


a designated area, use an emergency dismount, and engage the role player with verbal commands as well as a se- ries of weaponless strikes. The strikes can be open hand, closed hand, el- bows, knees or kicks, or even simple shoves and restraint techniques. The only limit to the strikes should be based on the officer’s skills and abil- ity (as well as the instructor’s ability to teach the particular strikes). Adding radio notification or call-


out should be added to the drill once the basic ability to dismount and uti- lize hand-to-hand skills is mastered. Ending the drill by transitioning from striking to restraint (i.e., ground stabi- lization) or from striking to restraint to handcuffing can be added as basic mastery is demonstrated.


Transition to Less-Lethal Weapons The bike patrol offi cer will ride to a designated area, use an emergency dis- mount, and engage a role player with an expandable baton. The role player should have a strike pad or punching


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