IPMBA Product Reviews
Bontrager Old Man Winter Riding Boots: Cold Got You Down?
by Allen Daniels, SCI #032 Bowdoin College (ME) Department of Public Safety he Bontrager Old Man Winter (OMW) riding boot has a removable inner bootie made of nylon and fleece, stuffed with 200g of 3M Thinsulate® insulation, with a quick-pull...
Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base
by Joshua Sinai Kiernan Group Holdings Andy Brown, Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base (Spokane, WA: WU Press, 2016), 378 pages, $19.99 [Paperback], ISBN: 978-0-9978-6340-6. he author of this important book, who at the time of...
Interbike 2017: A Dream Come True
by Jared Williams, PCI # 1214 Tacoma (WA) Police Department Interbike. This event has conjured up dreams for me for well over a decade. It is touted as the largest annual gathering of the Bicycle Industry in North America. ...
Just Another Tool in the Toolbox
By Maureen Becker, Executive Director Some may say it is a cliché, but all indications point to the e-Bike as exactly that. It is not a substitute for a strictly pedal-powered bicycle any more than a bicycle is...
Tu-Be or No Tu-Be: Is That A Question?
by Allen Daniels, SCI #032 Bowdoin College (ME) Department of Public Safety Have you heard of this new trend in tires called tubeless? Are you wondering if they are for you or your department? We ride year round here at...
Freetown Revlr and Roughneck Helmets
by Andy Shiu Lake Forest (IL) Police Department Bike helmets are designed for one primary purpose – to help protect the wearer’s head from injury. However, the typical bike rider doesn’t wear their helmet for...
eMTBs: To Use or Not to Use in Public Safety
by Clint Sandusky, former PCI #849/EMSCI #159 Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Department (Ret.) Bikes (electric pedal-assisted bikes) are becoming more and more prevalent. They’re being ridden by the recreational and transportation cyclists, at MTB races, and...
Ready to Rumble: Blauer Rumble and Rumble Shorty Bike Gloves
by Andy Shiu Lake Forest (IL) Police Department Upon graduating from the IPMBA Police Cyclist Course many years ago, one of the first presents I purchased for myself were bike gloves. After all, who doesn’t want a...
Legacy Safety & Security Armored Tee-Shirt
by Bruce Jackson, PCI #239T/EMSCI #325T Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy During the 2016 IPMBA Conference in Asheville, North Carolina, I was drooling my way through the vendor area and the Silent Auction when something I had to have...
Dual Eyewear: OpTX for Bike Ops
by Mitch Trujillo, PCI #244T/EMSCI #248T Boulder (CO) Police Department Technology’s potential is dependent upon its exploitation. It is well-proven that a pair of quality, UV-rated, tinted sunglasses protects against glare, harmful rays, and eye strain....
A Different Kind of Baywatch: E-Bikes for Law Enforcement
Download the PDF of: A Different Kind of Baywatch: E-Bikes for Law Enforcement, Electric Bike Action, 2014
Bontrager ION 800 R and Flare R Bicycle Lights
by Kenn Korchma, EMT MedCycle EMS, Trenton NJ Bontrager ION 800 Headlight The Bontrager ION 800 light is a great light overall. It is very versatile and easy to handle. Installation was made simple by picking an easily accessible spot on...
Serfas TSL Police Lighting Systems: 1400 Lumens. Watch Out, Bad Guys!
by Clint Sandusky, former PCI #849/EMSCI #159 Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Department (retired) As I began writing this product review on the Serfas TSL-Police Lighting Systems, I reflected on the many advancements in police lighting systems over my 24 years...
SCS Rack: Securely Transport Your Bikes
by Craig Lepkowski, PCI #1180-B/EMSCI #272-B Lake Forest (IL) Police Department IPMBA Secretary As an IPMBA Instructor and a father of three kids, I need a bike rack that carries five bicycles. I’ve looked at a...
Blauer: The Devil is in the Details
by Andy Shiu Lake Forest (IL) Police Department I have been a police officer for nearly 20 years now, and a bike officer for nearly 15 of them. Comfort and managing body heat has always been a factor. Wearing outer...
Five-Ten Impact Low Shoes: Flipping to Flats
by Andrew Humes, PCI #1515 College Station (TX) Police Department Tourism and Entertainment Police Unit During the 2016 IPMBA Conference in Asheville, North Carolina, I attended an instructor workshop demonstrating flat pedals and appropriate shoes for duty wear. I was intrigued...
Hot Pockets: MOCEAN Summit Pants
by Mo Ibrahim, PCI #1326T-B/EMSCI #321T-B Metropolitan (DC) Police Department Saturday, November 19, 2016, started out with a beautiful 78 degrees. It seemed too good to be true, so I looked at my weather app. Sure enough, the temperature was...
EE 750: Pedaling with Power
by Oliver Cachola Deerfield (IL) Police Department Deerfield Police Department bike patrol officers Davie and Lorenz are charged with the responsibility of patrolling the parks within Deerfield. Both officers have been instructed to interact with and be a visible...
Interbike 2016: The “Who’s Who” of the Bicycle Industry
by Gary Strang, PCI #1457 London (ON) Police Service IPMBA Membership Director Normally my duties on the IPMBA board involve membership, welcome letters, working with organizations to develop their bicycle units and providing information on the excellent training courses provided by...
Interbike 2016: Fostering Relationships, Old & New
by Clint Sandusky, ex-PCI #849/EMSCI #159 Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Department (retired) It is hard to believe it’s been 12 years since I last attended the Interbike show in Las Vegas, Nevada. In that time, I&rsquo...
Bicycle Gear
This equipment will help you get the most out of your shifts on bike patrol. By Melanie Basich, Police Magazine, April 10, 2017Bike Index: Bike Registration that Works
by Bernie Hogancamp, PCI #498 Homewood (IL) Police Department (retired) IPMBA President You’ve got a bike that you love, and the last thing you want to contemplate is how much someone might want to steal it from you. ...
Five Ten Impact Clipless VXI, Team Black
by Gary Strang, PCI #1457 London (ON) Police Service IPMBA Membership Coordinator Several months ago, I was on the hunt for a new pair of department-compliant cycling shoes. I had never owned a pair from the “Five Ten”...
Riding or Hiding? The Fuji Code 3-XT Police Mountain Bike
by Mo Ibrahim, PCI #1326-BT/EMSCI #321T-B Metropolitan (DC) Police Department I’m on the top level of a set of stairs. My goal? Ride the bike down the stairs without falling! As I’m...
Tack for the Technician
by Mitch Trujillo, PCI #244T/EMSCI #248T Boulder (CO) Police Department Of all the pieces of equipment on the shop floor, hardware seems to garner more attention than soft goods. Maybe it is “shiny object syndrome”. ...
Toronto International Bicycle Show 2016
by Gary Strang, PCI #1457 London (ON) Police Service IPMBA Membership Coordinator The Annual Toronto International Bicycle Show was held March 4-6, 2016, at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, in Toronto, Ontario. I attended the show...
Two Thumbs Up for TOGS
by Joe Ralston, PCI #1249 Topeka (KS) Police Department I have been a full-time bike cop for seven years with the Topeka Police Department and a PCI since 2011. I truly believe I have the greatest job in the world;...
Mobile Man USA Elecware
by Jared Williams, PCI #1214 Tacoma (WA) Police Department IPMBA Industry Relations Committee This set of wearable speakers was given to me in January 2016 for test and evaluation. The retail packaging contained the speaker vest, charging cable, and instructions. The...
Should You Be Riding Flat Pedals?
By MTB Action. This article appeared in the August 2016 issue of Mountain Bike Action. SKILL VERSUS SPEED Chances are, if you're an avid mountain biker you have experimented with clipless pedals. Most riders do, and...
Report from the 2015 Philadelphia Bike Show
by Tim Keaveney, PCI #1329 Pennsylvania State Police (retired) FULL DISCLOSURE: I have lived or worked in the City of Philadelphia or the surrounding metropolitan area my entire life. And I am old. As such, I am an...
Cygolite P3-800 vs. C3Sports MaxPatrol-600
by Colin McCoy IPMBA Member In an effort to upgrade the lighting system used by the officers of our agency, I set out to find the best quality lights at a relatively affordable price. Our unit operates during the dark...
Tiger Eye Helmet-Mounted Bicycle Mirror, Part II
by Josh Finkler, PCI #1571 Jefferson County (CO) Sheriff’s Office This review piggybacks on Rance’s review, as his review is quite thorough and covers most of the relevant mechanical and operational considerations of the Tiger Eye helmet-mounted...
Tiger Eye Helmet-Mounted Bicycle Mirror, Part I
by Rance Okada, PCI #246T Westminster (CO) Police Department (retired) Before we start, let me be clear: a mirror does NOT take the place of a rear scan. It is used WITH a rear scan to increase safety....
BioLogic Argus Safety Lights and WeatherCase
by Jared Williams, PCI #1214 Tacoma (WA) Police Department BioLogic is a company that offers numerous bike accessories. This review will cover a set of lights and a weather-proof cell phone case. Argus Safety Lights The Argus light system...
AHHHHH!!!!! No More Numbness!
by Mo Ibrahim, PCI #1326-B/EMSCI #321-B Metropolitan (DC) Police Department How many times do you pedal your bike, then coast, and then get up off the saddle? Those few seconds of relief are great, right? What if...
ISM Continues to Innovate
by Craig Lepkowski, PCI #1180/EMSCI #272 Lake Forest (IL) Police Department IPMBA Secretary Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to stop by the Innovative Saddlemaker (ISM) booth at the IPMBA Conference and chat about seats with Laura Toll. Laura...
EPIC-id: A Tool for Riders and First Responders
by Robert Dunivin, EMSCI #205 Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department As I write this article, I am trying to decide whether it is a product review or a training alert for public safety responders. That’s because whether this...
Haix Black Eagle Series Athletic 11 Low
by Paul Hollingsworth, PCI #468 Orange County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Let’s start with the basics. Upon unboxing the Black Eagle, it is instantly apparent that this is a solid, well-built shoe. In addition, considering its...
Interbike 2015: The Show of the Year
by Ramon Colon, PCI #825 Metropolitan (DC) Police Department (retired) On September 16-18, 2015, the Interbike Expo was held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thousands of vendors, representing bicycle frame builders, nutritional products, clothing...
ProGold Lubricants
by Gary Strang, PCI #1457 London (ON) Police Service IPMBA Membership Coordinator It’s not often I feel motivated to talk about lubrication products. With so many choices out there, it matters more that you’re just using...
Safety Vision Prima Facie Body Camera
by Samuel Kordik Cypress Creek (TX) EMS Our department recently had the opportunity to test and evaluate Safety Vision’s Prima Facie body camera. This small device, just a little bigger than a pack of cards, is designed...
EPIC-id™: Electronic Medical Information Form
by Sean Regan, EMSCI #267 Lynchburg (VA) Fire Department This is the electronic version of the IPMBA emergency form that we all carry in our left front pocket during classes. The EPIC-id™ is a wearable USB medical information bracelet that...
C3Sports MaxPatrol-600
by Mo Ibrahim, PCI #1326-B/EMSCI #321-B Metropolitan (DC) Police Department As I was waiting at a red light with my left foot down, and right foot in the power pedal position, a car pulled up alongside me. I looked...
“Your Day Will Come”
by Kirby Beck, PCI #002T/EMSCI #017T Coon Rapids (MN) Police Department (retired) I still remember the day some 25 or more years ago when one of the senior patrol officers sat down next to me to write a report. ...
The “Perfect” Solution
by Mike Harris, PCI #1125 Mill Creek (WA) Police Department (Retired) IPMBA Treasurer Several years ago I started to notice that my arms were getting a little short while checking ID’s, so I went to my doctor. The...
Switch box helps bike patrol keep hands on
By Jeffrey Sykes, Editor, Yesweekly.com November 4, 2015 Let’s say you’re one of Greensboro’s finest bike patrol officers and you simultaneously need to take off pedaling for all you’re worth and...
Bell Super 2R: Tackle Challenges
by Pat Hernandez, PCI #834T/EMSCI #161T, Albuquerque (NM) Police Department (Retired) The Bell Super2R helmet was designed for and marketed to enduro racers and big-mountain riders, but other user groups might enjoy and benefit from it, including...
Tifosi Dolomite 2.0 Tactical Sunglasses
by Jared Williams, PCI #1214, Tacoma (WA) Police Department, Industry Relations Committee Since the start of my law enforcement career over 10 years ago, I have been a firm believer in Oakley’s line of sunglasses, having owned the...
Cool Stuff from C3Sports
by James Englert, PCI #1081, Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office, IPMBA Industry Liaison I recently bought two products from C3Sports: the C3Sports Compact Police Bike Siren and Mini Pursuit Police Bike Light. C3Sports...
BioLogic FixKit Multi-Tool
by Jeff Britton, PCI #1205, Central Point (OR) Police Department I have been using the BioLogic FixKit multi-tool for several months. When I opened up the package, I was extremely impressed with the high-quality aluminum and chrome material used in...
Bike Sonar Is Helping Police Catch Drivers Who Squeeze Cyclists
The three-foot rule used to be impossible to enforce. But now your bike can enforce it for you. By Adele Peters, FastCoexist.com, July 30, 2015 Florida handed out around 500 tickets last year to drivers who veered too close to cyclists when...
Interbike 2014: No Disappointment!
by James Englert, PCI #1081, Arapahoe (CO) County Sheriffs Office, IPMBA Industry Liaison The 2014 Interbike was no disappointment. This year I attended the country’s largest bicycle industry trade show with IPMBA VP Bob Hatcher. I...
Hatch Cycling Gloves
by Scott Elliott, PCI #915/EMSCI #198, Niagara Regional (ON) Police Service There are many cycling glove manufacturers out there. There are various features that all cyclists want out of a glove. These include fit, features and performance. When you...
Jandd EMS Panniers and Top Bag
by Michael Salvatore, Westport (CT) EMS In 2010, when I was starting our EMS Bicycle Response Unit, I did some hard research on which panniers and top bags would work best for our department. We decided on the Jandd...
2014 Trek Stache 7
by Jared Williams, PCI #1214, Tacoma (WA) Police Department, IPMBA Industry Relations Committee 2014 marked the second year of production for the Trek Stache model. For 2014, Trek offered three versions of the bike, with varying component specs (models 6, 7, and 8). ...Dream Bike 2015: Your Product Purchase Program at Work
By Rob Collett, EMSCI #263, Poudre Valley (CO) Hospital EMS, IPMBA Industry Relations Committee Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015. It is hard to believe another year has flown by. If you are like many other people...
ProGold: Lubes that Work
by Matthew Worm, PCI #946, Omaha (NE) Police Department Having been involved with recreational and professional cycling for many years, I have witnessed the many evolutions of bicycle lubricants. It really did start many years ago in my garage...
Swagman Titan Two Bike Rack: Almost Great
by Rob Collett, EMSCI #263, Poudre Valley (CO) Hospital EMS What is the most important piece of equipment you use as a bicycle responder? Go ahead: name that one, single piece. Answering that question is very difficult for...
Bar Mitts: Get Ready for Winter
by James Englert, PCI #1081 Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office IPMBA Industry Liaison One of my goals at Interbike is to find products to suggest to instructors and members of IPMBA. This is a difficult task because...
Hero Kit: Save the Day
by David Hekel, San Dieguito River Park (CA) Mountain Bike Patrol I first saw an ad for the Hero Kit in the back of the September 2013 edition of Mountain Bike Action. Since I run a mountain bike patrol...
MaxPatrol-600 Bike Patrol Light
by Jameson Lehn, PCI #1243/EMSCI #320, Metropolitan (DC) Police Department The Code 3 Sports MaxPatrol-600 light consists of two parts. The first is a high-quality and very powerful CREE LED center beam light, with low and high beam modes. ...
Cascade Wear Ltd.
by Kyle Gallinger, PCI #1280/EMSCI #277, Carleton University (ON) Department of Public Safety Imagine ordering a uniform for everyone in your unit and having them all fit properly, even if they are 4’11” or 6’6”, 100 lbs or 300 lbs. ...
H&H Medical POCKET Trauma Kit
by Mike Fults, Los Angeles (CA) School Police (retired) IPMBA Industry Relations Committee While I was helping staff the IPMBA booth at the NASRO Conference in July, I met Scott Stein from H&H Medical Corporation. He...
iXS Trail RS Scores a Hat-Trick
by Mitch Trujillo, PCI #244T/EMSCI #248T, Boulder (CO) Police Department I was seeking a helmet that provided “fit, form, and function”. After several brand trials, I could only get two out of the three. ...
ABUS: Security for your Ride
by Marc Zingarelli, EMSC #179/SCI #002, Circleville (OH) Fire Department If you ask most people who ABUS is, you’ll probably get a blank look unless you’re talking to someone from Europe. ABUS is a German...
Mobile Edge: Bring it On
by Jared Williams, PCI #1214 Tacoma (WA) Police Department The Mobile Edge UrgentPower is a universal smartphone battery for backup power. When connected to your mobile device, it provides additional hours of run time. It comes with a USB...
Whistle a Tune of Safety
by Josh Stilts Northwest Business Monthly Bob Cameron knows what it feels like to be lost. When Cameron turns 74 this April he will have spent more than half a century aiding those who are lost. As honoree of the 2009 &ldquo...
Duro “Berm Master” Tire
By Jeff Britton, PCI #1205 Central Point (OR) Police Department While at Interbike last September, I stopped by the Duro Tire booth and was introduced to Duro representative Rick Emmert. Rick and I discussed different tires made by Duro that...
Trek 29er Police Bicycle
by Dominic Scali, PCI #1382 Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department Springtime 2012. The Anne Arundel County Police Department Bike Unit was ready to purchase new bikes for 2013. Our lineup has been composed of Fujis and Treks for the past...
Electric Bikes: Hype or Hope?
by David Cohen MNCPPC Park Police Reserves, Montgomery Division As an avid cyclist, my first reaction to the concept of an electric bike is negative. By putting a motor into the equation, you reduce the health benefits of riding...
Shimano Click ‘R Pedal and Shoes
by Troy Gielish, PCI #1136/EMSCI #269 Irvine (CA) Police Department Fellow public safety cyclists, I had to take a minute to share my experience with the new Click’R shoe and pedal systems by Shimano. I have been a...
The Guardian Angel: The Police View
by Jeff Britton, PCI #1205 Central Point (OR) Police Department The Guardian Angel personal safety lighting system is manufactured by 425 Inc., a personal safety device company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. According to a press release, the...
The Guardian Angel: The EMS View
by Sean Regan, EMSCI #267 Lynchburg (VA) Fire Department The Guardian Angel is a personal safety mini light bar that is intended to be worn on the uniform (epaulet) of a public safety official. The unit can be used by...
X-Fire Bikelane Light System: A Product Good for Personal Use
by Charles O’Roake, PCI #1201 Federal Reserve Bank of Houston (TX) Police Like others of you, I first found out about the X-Fire lighting system from a fellow instructor who posted their informational video to the instructor Google Group....
JET Lites F-U2
by Matthew Worm, PCI #946/EMSCI #256 Omaha (NE) Police Department One evening I was thinking “how can I further improve bicycle patrol and make life easier for my brothers and sisters on the beat?” That’s when...
Detours Panniers: These Bags Won’t Detour You from Your Mission
by Craig Lepkowski, PCI # 1180/EMSCI #272 Lake Forest (IL) Police Department IPMBA Secretary About a year and a half ago, after meeting Shawn Parks from Detours at the 2012 IPMBA Conference, I treated myself to both the D2R handlebar bag (now...