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Avon Park PD Adds Four New Bikes

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: Avon Park Police Commander Mike Rowan and Chief Matt Doughney take a closer look at four new bicycles purchased for the Avon Park Police Department's bicycle program before loading them into a trailer on Wednesday at the Bike Shop in Sebring.

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By BRAD DICKERSON Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

AVON PARK - At one point a few years ago, officers with the Avon Park Police Department were investigating a string of home burglaries.

The perpetrator would travel on foot and used the neighborhood shadows to hide himself from law enforcement.

Eventually, the APPD sent officers into targeted areas on bicycles, according to Commander Mike Rowan. Soon, they apprehended a suspect in connection with the burglaries.

"You're in a patrol car, you're driving a billboard on wheels," Rowan said. "On the bicycles, because of the way they're set up, you don't hear them coming."

The APPD has expanded its bicycle program with the purchase of four new units on Wednesday, which cost around $4,700, according to Rowan. That brings the total number of bicycles to eight.

Chief Matt Doughney said the money for the bikes came from funds taken in a drug seizure.

Rowan said the new bikes have better suspension, which makes them easier on the officers who ride. In the past, researchers such as Dr. Steven Schrader concluded that bicycling could cause health problems for law enforcement due to extended time riding and other issues.

In addition to the better vehicles, officers will attend training to learn such safety procedures as how to properly dismount the bike when apprehending a suspect. Rowan said three APPD officers have attended this one-day training and they hope to soon send more.

The APPD have used bikes in the past to monitor community events like the October Fest.

Rowan said officers are not on bike patrol every day, but are encouraged to carry them on their squad cars and spend a few hours each shift patrolling areas on two wheels as opposed to four.

Doughney said the squad cars will be equipped with racks so the officers can take their bikes with them.

He likes to spend one day a week, generally Friday, out patrolling areas of Avon Park on a bike. For Doughney, the advantages include being in better physical shape and having the opportunity to engage the public one-on-one, something they might not be able to do while driving a squad car.

Doughney said he can talk to the public about everything from sports to concerns they have about their specific neighborhoods.

"They're more willing to engage (officers) in conversation," he said. "They like to see us out there."

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com.

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