EAST HANOVER POLICE
BICYCLE PATROL UNIT
Officer Robert Adams (retired) and officer Kevin Croker
The Bicycle Patrol Unit was formed in August of 1997 and was put into service the following August of 1998. At present this unit consists of seven trained officers. They are:
John Fox, Chris Cannizzo, Joseph Zeppetelli, Andrew Underwood, Francis Franco, Thomas McPartland, and Kevin Croker
These officers attended a one week 40 hour bicycle training course given by the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association. The course consisted of class room instruction for the first half of each day with the practicing of techniques and bicycle rides during the afternoon session. The officers had to endure rides of up to thirty miles as part of these sessions.
Officer Robert Adams (retired) and officer Kevin Croker
The Unit is equipped with five 1998 Cannondale F 700 mountain bikes with the CAD 2 design aluminum frame. These bikes are equipped for police work and conform to NJ motor vehicle laws.
The features of this bike are Shimano STX RC rapid fire shifters, Shimano STX RC front derailleur with a compact 22 32 42 ring gear set, Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur with an 8 cog cluster, Avid 10 V-brakes operated by Promax leavers, 26'' Rhyno Lite SunRims, Shimano STX RC 85 hubs, Continental 50-559 (26X1.9) Town & Country tires, a CODA suspension seat post and a CODA SPG foam seat. The extras we added are a Nite Rider 6/10/15W Digital headlight with a water bottle battery pack, a Schwinn SC-3 audiometer/speedometer, a front and rear mounted red Vistalite 300 series, a front mounted white Vistalite 300 series, a Mega Horn audible device, and a rear bike rack carrying a Bushwhacker police rack pack. In this rack pack you will find First Aid supplies, a Ambu Bag used for CPR, a bicycle lock, daily police reports, some energy snacks and a motor vehicle summons book.
The Units is used to supplement patrol and is designed to give officers the opportunity to be more approachable to the public by getting closer to the people in the community while patrolling in a proactive manor in order to detect and deter crime. These officers also patrol at community events where they intermingle with the participants of such events in order to form a closer relationship and partnership with the public. Patrolling on bicycles also makes it easier to sneak up on suspected criminals, crime scenes and traffic violators. You may see members of this Unit peddling through all areas of the township, days and evenings depending on where they are most needed during that particular shift. Don't hesitate to flag one of them down if you wish to find out more about the Unit or it's officers.
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT RIDING SAFETY FIRST AND WEAR A HELMET !
Head injuries are the leading cause of death in 80 percent of bicycle
crashes. Helmets cut the risk of injury by 75-85 percent. Baseball, Football
and Hockey players wear helmets to prevent head injuries. No other serious
injury is as easy to prevent. No one expects to crash, but if you do have
your bicycle helmet on. It can reduce the risk of brain injury or death substantially.
REMEMBER IT IS THE LAW IN NJ THAT ANY CHILD UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE MUST WEAR A BICYCLE HELMET.
PARENTS:
ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE YOUR CHILDS BICYCLING SAFETY
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD:
Has a properly fitted bicycle that is adjusted to your child.
Has a well maintained bicycle that is free of any lose items/equipment, frayed cables or sharp edges.
Has a properly fitted helmet which is ANSI OR SNELL Certified and that they wear it. .
Wears bright colored and properly fitted clothing when riding
Is able to start, stop, turn and signal with ease before being allowed to venture out alone.
Understands these rules of the road before being allowed to ride on a quiet neighborhood street;
WE RECOMMEND:
CHILDREN younger than eight be closely supervised especially when they are permitted to ride on the neighborhood street, even quiet neighborhood streets. Ride and work with your child in the park until you are certain he or she is capable of riding on lightly traveled roads. Then gradually introduce them to the street environment and again only allow this with close supervision.
YOUNG CHILDREN should not be allowed to ride after dark. If they get caught out after dark encourage them to walk their bikes home. Anyone who rides after dark needs to have lights on their bike as stated in motor vehicle statute 39:4-10
AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS REMEMBER !
Automobile operators must treat bicyclists as another vehicle (WHICH THEY ARE). This means they have the same right to ride in a traffic lane as someone operating an automobile. Bicyclist may do this when there is a limited shoulder or no shoulder at all for the bicycle to be operated on, when making left turns or when following a marked traffic course for the direction of which they plan to travel.
SO THE FACT REMAINS THAT AUTOMOBILE OPERATOR SHOULD NOT BE SQUEEZING
PASSED BICYCLISTS ON THE ROADWAY WHEN THE BICYCLIST ARE IN ANY PORTION OF A
TRAVEL LANE AND THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE ADJACENT LANE FOR THE AUTOMOBILE TO
SAFELY PASS THE BICYCLIST. IS SAVING SECONDS EVEN A MINUTE ON YOUR DRIVING TIME
WORTH TAKING THE CHANCE ON SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED ? NOT TO
MENTION YOU COULD RECEIVE A 5 POINT MOTOR VEHICLE SUMMONS, A HEFTY FINE
AND EVEN JAIL TIME.
SO ALWAYS THINK SAFETY WHEN APPROACHING A BICYCLIST AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM TO RIDE AROUND ANY HAZARDS (i.e. gravel, debris, or storm drains etc.) THAT THEY MAY COME UPON. I'M SURE IF THE BICYCLIST WAS ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO BE GIVEN EVERY COURTESY AND RIGHT THEY DESERVE.
BICYCLIST REMEMBER !
ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to know and obey all traffic laws which apply to motor vehicles and bicycles. Statistics have indicated that most accidents involving car vs bicycle, the bicyclist is most frequently at fault due to either lack of knowledge of the laws or poor operational habits. Know the laws which apply to you and observe them.
