Greater Sudbury Police Service says its bicycle patrols are proving effective in the city’s downtown core, with officers seizing drugs, executing warrants and improving community relations through daily patrols. The Community Response Unit (CRU) consists of a total of eight officers, five of whom are deployed daily to patrol the downtown area by bike or on foot year-round. “It’s a unit that’s dedicated to officers having positive interactions with our community and also working with our community partners to address social disorder crimes,” said Sgt. Matt Hall, one of the officers currently serving in the unit. “It also addresses other issues in the community when it comes to mental health, addictions, homelessness, stuff like that.” In the winter, officers are given proper equipment, including fat bikes equipped with studded tires. “At the end of the day, there’s more positives that outweigh the negatives and challenges for being on a bike patrol,” said Hall. “If we’re on a bike patrol and we see something, you can directly go to that on a bicycle, rather than driving a cruiser. You might have to drive around a block or around a parking lot or buildings.” According to the police service, the CRU has conducted 860 focus patrols, issued 238 arrest warrants and responded to 368 calls for service this year. Between May 9 and 13 alone, bike officers seized $8,000 worth of fentanyl and cocaine and served 18 arrest warrants during routine patrols. Hall said the mobility of bikes allows officers to blend in while staying visible. “There’s been some, occurrences within the last year where they’ve rode their bike right up to people, and behind the gathering, the people were there conducting a drug transaction, and they didn’t even notice the police officer on the bicycle standing behind them while he watched them do a drug transaction,” he said. “Then we make the arrest and do what we have to do.” Impactful training Officers undergo a one-week training course to handle the physical demands of bike patrols, including managing gear and potential confrontations. “Police officers are usually carrying about an extra 25 to 30 pounds on them a day. So that makes a difference when you’re riding a bike and then also just being able to access your use of force options and something if you know, somebody pushes you off your bike and to be able to do different things like that,” Hall said. “There’s lots of training when it comes, when it comes to being a, police bicycle officer, which the officers, all have to can, pass and compete to do when they want to be an officer on a bike patrol.” Positive reaction from the community Jeff Macintyre, executive director of Downtown Sudbury, said business owners enjoy seeing the increased police presence in a more accessible, less intimidating manner. “They’re able to hop off the bike easily, have conversations with people, and be a visible presence within the downtown,” he said. “It also gives them that nuanced ability to just pop into a business. Talk to them about any issues that they’re having and be more proactive in keeping downtown safe.” With new restaurants and safety initiatives, MacIntyre said the CRU has helped revitalize the area. “We’ve had some new restaurants open up, which is great. Draws a lot of people, great Caribbean food, another Japanese restaurant opened up, a great sandwich shop, and it’s helping to drive that traffic,” he said. “Also, working with all of our partners (and) Go-Give through Welcoming Streets. The bikes on police really kind of brings it all together and it’s letting us kind of, restart the downtown and get that engine rolling again.” Hall said the unit’s mission of fostering positive community relations and trust is succeeding. “The public loves the bikes. We have thousands of positive interactions with the public,” he said. “When you’re out on a bike and just pedalling around, it’s easier to stop and say hi to somebody and have a conversation than it is when you’re driving a cruiser. Right? So, those public interactions is very positive for us and you can’t do it any other way.”
