SOMBA K’E/YELLOWKNIFE
There has been no delay in rolling out the RCMP bicycle patrol, despite the fact that several officers won't receive their bicycle training until later this month when summer is nearing its end.

RCMP Const. Maury Sparvier, left, and Const. Paul Woodfine out on bicycle patrol in Yellowknife earlier this month. Some Yelllowknife officers will not receive their bicycle training until later this month. - photo courtesy of RCMP G-Division

In an email to Yellowknifer, Yellowknife RCMP Staff Sgt. Stephen Burrill said there's been no delay in implementing bike patrols. He added training additional members simply allows the RCMP to increase the number of bike patrols it can complete throughout the summer.

Eventually, there is a good chance Yellowknifers will see more RCMP officers patrolling city streets and trails on bicycles, said Sgt. Marc Coulombe, the media relations officer for Yellowknife RCMP.

"There are currently four officers trained for bicycle patrols, but that number could increase to as many as 12 over the next month or so," said Coulombe.

He added that the four-day training session includes working on riding skills, distance rides and how to use the bike for self-defence.

"If someone is coming at you with a knife, for instance, the bicycle can be used as a shield," said Coulombe. "The training shows officers how best to do that."

The course has proven to be a popular one among Yellowknife's RCMP officers, with as many as 12 to 14 officers having now signed up for bicycle training.

"We've actually had to turn down down some officers' requests to take the training because the course is full," said Coulombe.

Modeled on other cities

Coulombe said Yellowknife's bike patrols have been modeled on other cities where they have seen success.

"It obviously makes the officers more visible to people on the streets," said Coulombe. "But it also allows an officer to more discreetly approach someone who is breaking the law.

"In certain instances, bicycles can actually arrive ahead of patrol vehicles to occurrences. That would be the case on the Frame Lake Trail, for example," he said.

Officers on bike patrols work in tandem with officers behind the wheel of police cruisers, said Coulombe.

"When a bicycle officer detains or arrests a suspect, he obviously calls for backup with officers in a vehicle," said Coulombe.

"There is no way to transfer a suspect on a bike."

Coulombe said there is no set protocol for when bicycle patrols are out and about.

"We leave it up to the discretion of the individual officers. If they think on a given day that a bike patrol is appropriate, then they have the authority to do that.

"For example, it's a lot easier for officers to patrol an event like Canada Day celebrations at Sombe K'e (Civic Plaza) on bikes than from a vehicle."

Coulombe said the public appears to be happy to see officers on bikes.

"Whether we're on bicycles or all-terrain vehicles out on the trails, the feedback from the public has been very positive," he said.

Coulombe added that the same protocols governing bicycle patrols also apply to ATVs.

"It's up to the officer's discretion whether to patrol on an ATV or a vehicle," said Coulombe.