This program is designed as a deterant to crime, to effectively act as an "extra set of eyes and ears for the police." Volunteers are trained to patrol and assist the police, and to report any suspicious activity they may see while on patrol.
Volunteers patrol parks, local beaches, car lots, streets and other problem areas. Volunteers can also go out on patrol during local events such as parades, carnival-like festivals, or other large outdoor events such as sports tournaments.
Volunteers always ride in pairs, and are equiped with radios so that they are always in contact with each other as well as with an assigned general duty member who liases between them and other officers. Volunteers can also ride with other official police bike squad members. Volunteers are equiped with uniforms, which inlcude a bright, visible vest.
Most bike squad volunteers are also trained in basic CPR. However, we feel it's important for the public to understand that volunteers only act as "eyes and ears" for the police. They won't intervene in situations that could harm them. (ie. they won't persue suspects,
or try to stop robberies in progress - but they will report it to general duty members who can imediately respond and effectively deal with the situation). Volunteers are trained to give good descriptions and how to give percise locations to members who will
respond to a situation.
Most volunteer Bicycle Patrol programs in British Columbia are only a few years old, but it is proving to be a success. At the South Surrey District 5 Community Police Station, for example, there were already approximately thirty volunteers involved in their program in 1999.
