Mocean Grant for Public Safety
Cycling
Congratulations to the winners of the 2005 Mocean Grants for Public Safety
Cycling! These grants, earmarked for use at the IPMBA Conference, were
instrumental in enabling the winners to attend the conference and/or
pre-conference. After reviewing numerous applications, the Mocean board of
directors awarded the grants as follows:
Law Enforcement:
Leon Szczepanski, Miami Dade School Police - $650.00
Jamie Green, Walworth County Sheriff's Dept.* - $350.00
*Walworth County Sheriff's Department was not able to send a representative.
Colleges/Universities:
Michael Blevins, Pima County Community College - $650.00
Clint Sandusky, Riverside Community College - $350.00
EMS:
Malia Daniels, Grady Emergency Medical Service - $650.00
John W. Russell, Sr., Bucks County Rescue Squad -$350.00
To be considered for a grant, applicants were required to answer a series
of twelve questions about their bicycle units. Following is a summary of
their responses.
1. How long has your bike unit been operating?
Responses ranged from 1990 (Pima CCC PD) to 2004 (Walworth County SO).
2. How many members does your bike unit have?
Responses ranged from four (Walworth County) to 21 (Miami-Dade School Police).
3. How many bikes does your bike unit have?
Responses ranged from four (Walworth County) to 44 (Miami-Dade School Police).
4. What type of training is required of your bike unit members?
All departments require IPMBA training with the exception of Riverside CC,
which requires California POST. Pima CCC also requires four quarterly in-service
trainings, and Grady EMS requires two hours of training each month.
5. Which, if any, IPMBA Conferences have you attended?
Prior to the 2005 conference, Clint Sandusky had attended the most (1995-1997,
1999-2000, 2002, 2004 - all but two at his own expense). John Russell attended
2003-2004 and Malia Daniels attended 2002. The others had not yet had the
opportunity.
6. How is your bike unit used?
The EMS bike teams are primarily used for special events, though Bucks County
also indicated that bikes are used for SAR. Walworth County at this time
is also using the bikes for special events. Pima, Riverside, and Miami-Dade
focus on campus patrol and special events. Miami-Dade mentioned proactive
sweeps and truancy sweeps as well.
7. How does your bike unit serve the community?
Every agency either already conducts bike rodeos and helmet safety programs
or intends to implement similar programs. Bucks County makes presentations
to local civic groups about the importance of bike medics at special events,
and Grady EMS provides free CPR training to local police officers and downtown
ambassadors, and raises funds by participating in such events as the MS-150.
The Riverside CC bike unit is active in local Traffic Safety Fairs and El
Protector Programs. Miami-Dade provides bike safety training in all local
elementary schools.
8. What is your bike unit's mission?
Most of the bike units' missions echo those of their departments. They view
themselves as a tool in support of the overall mission. Bucks County articulated
this specific mission: "to provide a means for rapid emergency medical response
for special events and search and rescue, with the ability to sustain and
treat victims for a period of ten minutes until additional medical resources
can arrive."
9. What are the goals and objectives of your bike unit?
Riverside CC has the goal of providing "comprehensive and consistent enforcement
on each of the District's campuses, while providing one-on-one interaction
with people." The objectives established to achieve that goal are Community
Relations, Target Identification, and Enforcement. Pima CCC's goals are the
reduction of crime, especially property crime, quick response in congested
and inaccessible areas, public trust, and improved officer fitness, health,
and morale. Grady EMS aims to provide rapid access emergency medical service
and enhance public awareness of bicycle and helmet safety. Walworth County
hopes to start patrolling a local bike trail, hosting safety events, and
generating positive PR.
10. How do you measure your success?
Miami-Dade has begun tracking the results of their detail using the Spar
Crime Analysis Network, noting a decline in violent behavior and fights at
dismissal time as a result of their proactive bike patrol sweeps. Bucks County
relates the story of saving the life of a retired Philadelphia police officer
stricken with a heart attack during the 2003 Broad Street Run (a feat echoed
this year). Grady EMS shares a similar tale and also notes improved morale,
a marked decrease in call volume for transport units, requests from outside
vendors, and positive news coverage. Pima CCC notes a decline in thefts while
bikes are on patrol, happier officers, and reduced response time. They also
enjoy measuring it with the verbal praise they receive from the community
- "it's so nice to see you guys out here!"
What has your bike unit accomplished thus far?
Pima CCC has been able to offer bike safety fairs to local children and has
provided training to other agencies in southern Arizona. Grady is proud that,
since 2001, their unit has grown from six members and four bikes to 12 members
and 8 bikes, while Bucks County cites financial self-sufficiency. All are
proud of the ways in which they have improved their communities through reduced
crime, improved safety, and lives saved.
11. Why are you applying for this award?
All entries cited budget constraints. Some hoped the funds would convince
their agencies to send themselves; others were hoping to use the grant to
send an additional person. Two were prepared to pay for the conference out
of their own pockets and saw this as on opportunity to have their departments
take the financial responsibility for their professional development.
12. How will you use your new-found knowledge to better your community?
A common goal was to gain information and share it with the rest of the bike
unit members, using the knowledge to better themselves as bike officers and
medics, thereby providing the community with "the most efficient and best
patrol we can offer."
More Stories from the 2005 IPMBA
Conference...
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