News Release
For Immediate Release
EUSTIS, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2014) – The City of Eustis Police Department announced the return of bike patrol officers as part of the special enforcement unit. Beginning earlier this week, three bike officers are on patrol in neighborhoods and business districts across the City.
Police bicycle patrol is an extremely economical, useful and effective form of law enforcement. The visibility of an officer on a bicycle is difficult to duplicate and with this visibility comes an increase in human contact with the community. On a bicycle, an officer is much more approachable since the barrier of the patrol car is removed.
“It is much like the old "Beat Officers" who used to walk the streets,” said Police Chief Fred Cobb. “They knew people by name and had a good feel for the neighborhoods at a personal level. Having bike officers accessible to the community helps in building new contacts and trust from the citizens.”
Bike patrol allows officers to be proactive in fighting crime rather than reactive. Additionally, officers can be much more aware of concerns before they turn into problems. Should the officer come upon a disturbance, he or she can quietly monitor and approach in a low-keyed manner, without much attention or disturbance to residents.
A bicycle patrol’s increased mobility is ideal for public events such as festivals, concerts, sporting events and other large gatherings. An officer can navigate through a crowd while on a bike and can find short cuts where patrol cars cannot maneuver. This mobility also adds a "stealth" advantage to bike patrols versus patrol vehicles. An officer on a bike is much smaller, quieter and can go places that are not easily accessible to patrol vehicles. This is extremely advantageous for crime prevention.
About Eustis: The City of Eustis, Florida was established in 1883 in the heart of Lake County covering approximately 11.4 square miles with 19,000 residents. As a destination for arts and culture, Eustis truly reflects its motto of Culture, Opportunity, and Vitality. Eustis has a historic, waterfront downtown and quality, family-oriented neighborhoods. Eustis is a business-friendly community that places a high priority on its quality of life and economic sustainability. More information can be found online at www.eustis.org.
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