Training
Police Bicycle Training is a specialty item for officers. Police bicycle patrols are a unique and specialized way of completing police work. Bicycle patrols are a proven crime fighting, community relations and special event tool currently used by police departments throughout the world. In California, there is currently no requirement by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to complete a bicycle school prior to deploying an officer on a bicycle. This common practice poses an issue to officer safety and civil liabilities.
In the interest of officer safety, SoCalPOBA believes that officers should receive fundamental training by attending a police bicycle school prior to being deployed in the field. Many departments require their officers to attend a certified bicycle school, but which one and where?
Bicycle Schools for law enforcement are specifically designed for the bicycle patrol officer. It offers a basic understanding of effective cycling, patrol concepts, tactics, shooting techniques, fitness matters, and special considerations faced by bicycle patrol officers. It takes a period of time to adjust to the bicycle and to make it second nature for general safety. SoCalPOBA has a goal to assist in the development, delivery and recommendation of police bicycle schools for Southern California Police Agencies.
There are more than 50 police bicycle schools listed on the POST web site, but most have been de-certified. SoCalPOBA will continue to gather information on police bicycle training, events, competitions, instructor schools and bicycle mobile field force schools and list them on this web site. Some listed may not be POST certified, but may be presented by organizations who take police bicycle training seriously. All of the schools listed will provide the officers the skills needed to effectively work on a bicycle.
If you are aware of a police bicycle patrol, bicycle specialty or bicycle instructor school that you would recommend, please contact SoCalPOBA so the information can be added to the web site for the benefit of its membership.
