Emergence Of Two-Wheeled Squad Having Positive Impact

0
124

Surrey – Over the past threeweeks, a very specialized team ofpolice officers have beenpatrolling the City of Surrey andproviding a highly visible policepresence in the community.With their bright yellow jackets,sporty bike gloves, helmets, andreflectors they are hard to miss.But don’t be fooled, this isn’t thelocal cycling team. The re-emergenceof the Surrey RCMP’sBike Squad has had a positiveimpact on the community’s attitudetowards crime and publicsafety.“The feedback we have receivedso far has been very encouraging,”says Surrey RCMP Cpl.Neil Kennedy, in charge of thesix member team. “Residentsand business are very pleased tosee us out here, and being onbikes allows us to provide amuch more personalized level ofpolicing.”Created in response to concernsfrom residents in the Newtonarea, the Surrey RCMP’s BikeSquad will be enacting a numberof different enforcement strategiesto alleviate public safetyconcerns across the city. Muchof their enforcement activitywill be self-generated and basedon what they hear at the streetlevel at any given time.“This is a great example of thepolice and the communityworking together to solve issuesof crime,” says Officer inCharge, Chief SuperintendentBill Fordy, who was a memberof Surrey RCMP’s Bike Squadin the 1990’s. “We need eachother and we all share in theresponsibilities of public safety.”All the officers on the squadcome from community policingbackgrounds, and have a rangeof experience from general dutyto investigative policing. Thesquad’s wide range of policingskills, combined with their abilityto access areas of the city thatpolice cars cannot, has resultedin some early successes.The team has already conductedover 140 street checks in theirshort time of operation resultingin 13 arrests for an assortmentof criminal code and drugoffences, 7 criminal codecharges being recommended toCrown Counsel, and 35 provincialfines and bylaw tickets beingissued.The Bike Squad has alsobeen successful in arrestingindividuals not abiding by theircourt conditions and getting anumber of weapons off thestreet. One particular offenderwas nabbed for a simple jaywalkinginfraction and was thenidentified as a prolific offenderwith five outstanding warrants.She had been evading policesince last summer and wasquickly taken into custody.Additionally, the squad attendslocal events, providing trafficsafety and a very visible policepresence. The aim of this typeof proactive policing is to helpreduce potential nuisance crimeby making it uncomfortable forthose intent on causing harm inour community. As the warmerweather arrives, the team will beeven more visible, patrollingparks, playgrounds, beaches,and school grounds.