Policing

Bike Patrol

The Matawan Police Department Bicycle Patrol is based on the community policing concept. Its purpose is to bring officers and the community which they serve closer, while at the same time suppressing crime through both low and high visibility tactics. So far, the Matawan Police Dept. Bicycle Patrol has been a success, thanks to the cooperation of the members of this department, and has been greatly accepted by the citizens of Matawan.

Although this departments’ bicycle patrol has only been in operation since 1999, bicycle patrol is a century old tactic that dates back to the New York City Police Department in 1898. It was initiated because officers could respond faster than those on horseback or foot. It was found to be extremely effective, but fell out of use with the inception of the patrol car in the early 1920’s.

Matawan Police Bike Patrol Officers Jason Gallo and Matthew O’Boyle.

More than a half a century later, the bicycle patrol was re-instituted by the Seattle Police Dept. in 1987. Officers in Seattle believed that bicycle patrol would prove more effective in patrolling downtown Seattle, and were in fact, right. It is now estimated that almost 1,000 police departments across the country utilize the bicycle patrol. The Matawan Police Department’s Bicycle Patrol Unit consists of eight officers specially trained to ride a bicycle in adverse conditions. Each officer has completed a 40 hour training course including, but not limited to:

Safe bicycle operation
Laws / right of way
Bicycle nomenclature
Use of Equipment
Defensive and offensive techniques
Nutrition and fitness

The Bicycle Patrol is also called upon throughout the year to supplement traditional patrol during certain special events such as:

Memorial Day Parade
4th of July
Downtown Celebration
National Night Out
Matawan Day
Halloween / Mischief Night

THE BICYCLE PATROL IS ONE OF MANY SERVICES UTILIZED BY THE MATAWAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS A SAFE COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE.