By Catenya McHenry of KXAN.com
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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas state troopers are finding a new way to fight crime: Patrolling on bikes instead of in cars.
They now have a new perspective on crime, and a new way to fight it.
“You are there and able to see more. You obviously are a lot more quiet and not as obvious,” said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Gabe Huber.
“It’s kind of like the difference between an old television and an HD,” says Eric Brackelsberg, DPS bike patrolman. “Your perspective is so much more vivid. It’s a whole new way of patrolling.”
In October 2009, DPS officials decided to take six officers out of their patrol cars to send them cycling, patrolling the Capitol complex on bikes . In less than a year the program is showing huge success. There are now 13 officers cycling the complex and more importantly, they’re presence and crime fighting is working.
“”It’s approximately a reduction of 50% of the crime, and the majority of crimes is crimes against property, criminal mischief, burglary to vehicles,” said patrol and security operations captain Laurencio Saenz.
From the time it takes an officer to walk to his patrol car, crank it up and arrive to a scene, a bike officer is likely already there. When the Capitol is in emergency mode on lockdown, cement barricades are activated blocking any cars from entering or exiting the Capitol complex. On a bike, officers don’t have to wait; they can bypass the barricades, take the sidewalks, ride between buildings arriving to a scene in just seconds. In a patrol car more than just a barricade can stand in the way.
“With the number of one way streets, the units [patrol cars] tend to get caught up in some of that traffic, whereas our bike patrol units are not confined to the streets alone,” said Sgt. Gabe Huber.
When Fausto Cardenas opened fire at the Capitol back in January 2010 , Eric Brakelsberg and his partner were two of the first responding officers.
“I was five or ten seconds behind him. We were able to beat all the units over there because of the circumstances,” said DPS bike patrolman Eric Brackelsberg.
The bike patrolman have the same jurisdiction as DPS’ patrol cars. They can issue tickets, make arrests, and assist EMS with minor and more serious medical calls. Cycling also allows Troopers to see and hear more and they are more accessible to the Capitol employees and its visitors.
“You could be riding by and somebody can holler at you, hey I need some help and you’re in a car, you have your window up or even just your engine noise of your own vehicle, you might not hear that person,” said Eric Brakelsberg.
Riding a bike has proved to be more cost-effective too. Officers say the expense of a patrol car, outfitted with computer and all the equipment officers need is about $30,000. That doesn’t include regular maintenance and gas. Putting an officer on a bike, is significantly less. Overall, Troopers say doing more with less is keeping the public safe, cutting down on crime and response time. Troopers patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.