"Technically, it is an emergency vehicle. People have to yield." – Paul Pfiester
Chardon police officers Mike Shaw and Paul Pfiester are traveling a familiar daily beat, but occasionally on new wheels.
While some police departments are stepping up to ATVs, motorcycles or horses, Chardon’s is going in a community-friendly direction with a Giant Talon bicycle outfitted for police work.
The bike allows Pfiester and Shaw to “cruise” the city streets and paths, day or night, quietly observing, rendering assistance and keeping abreast of activity that might evaporate at the sight of a normal cruiser.
The pair, working opposite shifts, share the bike, which rides along on a quick-release rack on the back of their cruiser.
Shaw and Pfiester, dressed in Chardon Police Department black and blue biking gear, are also outfitted with all the firepower and communication equipment they need, while the bike has lights and siren, Pfiester said.
“Technically, it is an emergency vehicle. People have to yield,” he said.
While bikes are more maneuverable than a four-wheeled vehicle, they are also a little trickier to use. An officer can chase a suspect down while on a bike, but then what?
Shaw said he went to Police Chief Scott Niehus last year asking about the possibility of a bike for police work and Niehus, new to the department at the time, said both officers should work together on the idea, since Pfiester had also suggested a bike patrol.
The concept gained momentum and in May, they attended the International Police Mountain Bike Association training sponsored by the Delaware, Ohio, police department.
The week-long training provided a background on everything from bike maintenance, legal issues and safely dismounting to apprehend a suspect to what to do in case you crash.
“Some of it was a surprise,” Shaw said, such as the scenario where he was chasing a “man with a gun” on grass and his bike went out of control. “Off I went, but I made a quick recovery.”
By mid-June, they were starting to use the bike in the city and discovered its visibility and mobility are only a couple of the advantages of two-wheel patrol. Good community relations result from an officer being out of the cruiser.
“We drive to an area and pedal around the neighborhood,” Shaw said, adding the sight of a police officer on a bike is a good example to youth.
He said when he sees a young bike rider wearing a helmet, he might give out a coupon for a free ice cream at King Cone at Grant and North Hambden streets.
“It makes us more accessible and approachable,” Shaw said.
They also noted an officer can hear and see better from the back of a bike, especially at night.
“There are different sounds you hear. You can get to different places and get there faster than in a cruiser,” Pfiester said.
The bike is outfitted with a headlight, but between good night vision and city lighting, it is hardly necessary and the narrow wheels on pavement are almost silent, he said.
“Nobody knows you are there. If you’re in a cruiser, everybody notices,” Pfiester said.
They also carry report forms, parking tickets and a first-aid kit on the bike, and can respond to mutual aid calls, he said.
The mountain bike has 27 speeds and 29-inch wheels. It retails at about $1,000 before lights and sirens are added, Shaw said.
He and Pfiester are the only two officers of the Chardon Police Department certified for the bike, but several other officers are interested and another bike may become part of the department’s equipment by next summer.
Both men like the idea of having additional bike patrolling in Chardon. Now having a couple of months of experience on the mountain bike, they are happy to talk to anyone who hails them on their rounds.
“People have questions and that starts a conversation,” Pfiester said.
