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Pedal Power: South Fayette police officers patrol community by bike
Pedal Power
South Fayette police officers patrol community by bike
By Andrea Iglar
Quickly and quietly, the bicycle cruises up the hill from Mayview Road, glides past the splash pad, rounds a bend by the pavilion and coasts down the hill toward Greenwood Drive.
It’s a warm June day, and South Fayette Township police officer Joe Burek patrols Fairview Park on two wheels.
A certified bike patrol officer, Burek uses an electric-assisted mountain bike outfitted for police work. He rolls through parks, trails, neighborhoods and business districts, often entering areas cars can’t reach.
Burek—along with officers Markus Buchanan, James Jeffrey and Mike Kuchta—are qualified to make the rounds on bike and may be seen cycling through the township from spring to fall.
Bike patrols can help officers deter crime and pursue unlawful activity, plus engage more closely with community members.
“It’s just a different form of patrol,” Burek said. “You get to know your community better on the bike.”
The police department has had bike patrols for about 20 years, but it wasn’t until 2017 that officers began using electric bicycles, or e-bikes. The street-legal vehicles have pedal-assist, which boosts the power officers get from pedaling.
Police Chief John Phoennik said the e-bikes are more efficient than regular biking for public safety work, getting officers where they need to go faster and with less effort.
“The e-bikes have now opened up more areas where we can patrol,” he said.
The police department also operates a utility terrain vehicle, or UTV. The vehicle is designed for natural areas where it is impractical to drive full-size vehicles.
“We have access to every inch of the township now, between the UTV and the bikes,” Phoennik said.
The police bicycles have a rechargeable battery pack, a pedal-assist engine that goes up to 20 mph, front and rear lights, a horn, sirens, and red and blue police lights.
Bike officers must follow the rules of the road, and they actually can pull over a car or make an arrest from a police bicycle.
Burek is certified in police bicycle operations by the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The extensive training includes defensive tactics, dismounting, pursuit, crowd control, maneuvering and other skills, plus bike maintenance and community bike programming.
Burek’s uniform includes a high-visibility neon green shirt under his usual police vest, and sometimes he wears shorts instead of long pants. The atypical uniform draws attention.
“People are always surprised when they see a cop on a bike, but they’re always super appreciative when they see us,” Burek said.
Because bicycle officers tend to be more visible and readily accessible than officers in cars, people tend to be comfortable approaching them and starting conversations, he said.
On patrol, Burek gives kids free bike helmets or stickers that say, “Always wear your helmet.” He also stops to educate teens and parents about the safe, legal use of e-bikes, which has been a concern throughout the community.
Burek welcomes people to interact with him when they see him on bike patrol.
“Feel free to approach if you see me,” he said. “Stop and say hi.”
