by Mary P Brooke – West Shore Voice News
Friday, October 12 ~ LANGFORD. The bicycle patrol unit of the West Shore RCMP Detachment is rolling right along. Two officers are fully involved in the wheeled unit — a corporal and a constable — with two more officers available.
Since July 3, there has been a “significant” amount of stolen property retrieved by the bicycle unit including seven bicycles, four vehicles, one tent trailer and a dirt bike. There have been 30 arrests. Many of those arrests were on the Galloping Goose trail.
“Those arrests were only able to take place because our bikes were able to reach the more secluded remote parts of our area,” said Cst Nancy Saggar. She explained that officers could access the trail system and get to places that police officers in vehicles would not be able to get to. “This has truly contributed to the success of the unit,” Saggar said.
She said the unit has also been proactive for targeting known prolific offenders in the area.
The bicycle patrol is considered to be less intimidating. “It’s easier to approach officers on bikes and easier for them to stop than if someone is flagging down a police vehicle,” said Cst Saggar.
Saggar also said that with recreational cannabis use and possession becoming legal next week (October 17) that officers are trained and ready to detect drug-impaired driving. Several officers have take in-house training, and “there are courses we can do”, she told media today at the detachment. As more officers are trained in the use of the Standard Field Sobriety Test, then more of the detachment will know how to administer that test over time, said Saggar.