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2018 Product Guide Newsletter of the International Police Mountain Bike Association Just Another Tool in the Toolbox Bike Patrol Improves by Maureen Becker Executive Director Communications, Fosters Relationships ome may say it is a cliché, but all indications point to the e-Bike as exactly that. S Patrolling on two wheels makes police more It is not a substitute for a strictly pedal-powered bicycle any more approachable, increases interaction with public. than a bicycle is a substitute for a patrol car, a motorcycle, an by Adrienne Zimmer ambulance, or a good pair of walking shoes. Law Enforcement Technology/Officer.com It is just one in the spectrum of apparatus public safety personnel This article appeared in the October issue of Law Enforcement can deploy in an effort to best serve their communities. Technology and at officer.com on October 27, 2017. An IPMBA member once remarked that, as a firefighter, he hough the concept of bicycle policing has been selected the apparatus that best suited the situation, whether it around since the 1800s, the modern renaissance of be a brush truck, a ladder truck, a tiller, a fire boat, an T policing by bicycle is generally attributed to the Seattle ambulance, or a rescue squad. While this may be taboo to the Police Department beginning in the late 1980s. “At that “pedal purists”, there may yet be a place for the e-Bike in the time, mountain bikes were just emerging onto the cycling public safety fleet. scene, and two officers decided to try them as a solution to Today’s e-Bike Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, there the growing traffic congestion hampering response times,” is lighter, more was a lot of resistance to bicycles, and even says Maureen Becker, executive director of the responsive, more so, bicycle training. Since the early International Police Mountain Bike Association and more 2000’s, there has been resistance against e- (IPMBA). “The mountain bike was a contributing factor affordable than Bikes. They’re heavy. They’re clunky. because it was the first bicycle practical for the type of in the past. They’re expensive. They break easily. They riding conditions an officer in an urban environment might encourage laziness. But as Bob Dylan would encounter.” Results included higher arrest rates and sing, “The times they are a-changin’”. Today’s e-Bike is lighter, positive public opinion. more responsive, and more affordable than in the past. And Since that time the concept has gained momentum across judging by the number of requests for best practices for e-Bike the U.S. and IPMBA reports 82 to 100 percent of all training and operations, more agencies are investing in them. And (Continued on page 33) even more are intrigued by the possibilities. Agencies that are adopting them are finding that they appeal to personnel who like the approachability and accessibility that bikes offer, but do not necessarily enjoy riding bikes, whether it be for reasons of weather, traffic, or terrain. On an e-Bike, they can go Board of Directors........................................... 31 further and faster with less fatigue, but they can also slow down Issue Focus: 2018 Product Guide .................. 5-24 and interact with the members of their communities. They feel confident that at the end of a pursuit, they can dismount and Corporate Members .................................... 21 engage without feeling already spent. They feel they can traverse Bontrager Old Man Winter Boots ............... 10 challenging terrain – on- or off-road – and deliver life-saving measures in a timely manner in certain situations in which pedal Book Review: Warnings Unheeded ........... 9 bikes may not work as well. E-Bike Task Force........................................ 9 Inasmuch as many IPMBA members enjoy riding bikes on duty IPMBA Position Paper on Bike Types.......... 7 because they are bicyclists, they like moving slowly enough to be more aware of their surroundings, and/or they like getting paid to Interbike 2017: A Dream Come True......... 5 exercise, the e-Bike presents opportunities to agencies seeking MOCEAN Sponsored Iditarod Racer ........... 13 ways to enhance their bicycle operations, expand the number of personnel who pedal on duty, and encourage more community Nicotine Studded Tire ................................. 11 engagement. Product Purchase Program .......................... 15-19 Look no further than the article by Clint Sandusky in the last issue Supplier Listing ........................................... 22-24 of IPMBA News, the call for E-Bike Task Force members on page Member News ................................................ 25-31 nine of this issue, and the many articles posted at www.ipmba.org 1 IPMBA(search NEWS, electric VOL. bikes) 27, to NO.begin 1 to2018 embrace the possibility and President’s Column ......................................... 2 practicality of integrating e-Bikes into your pedal-powered fleet. PRESIDENT’S C OLUMN MMembership:embership: Our Greatest Asset hortly after issue certifications; those come from member. That being said, we do separating the IPMBA office. They should not encourage our members to expand SSSfrom “The issue course completion certificates their knowledge and skill set so they League” in 1998, either; this circumvents the system can join the instructor cadre and IPMBA began to and allows a student to get share their experience with future focus more on departmental credit for attending public safety cyclists. Either way, developing without an official certification. our membership is our greatest training programs Remember: a course completion asset! and resources for certificate is different from a There are a lot of great things our members. certification backed by an happening at IPMBA, and there are Having introduced the IPMBA EMS accrediting association. To mitigate opportunities for our members to get Cyclist Course in 1997, IPMBA risk and liability and meet the involved and contribute to the good again expanded our offerings in requirements of accrediting bodies of IPMBA. At the Winter Board 2002 (Bicycle Response Team like the Commission for Meeting, the Board took steps to Training), 2003 (Intermediate Police Accreditation for Law Enforcement formalize and reorganize several Cyclist Course, now known as the Agencies (CALEA) and the standing and ad-hoc committees to PESC II Course), and 2004 (Security Commission on Accreditation of assist with two major projects: the Cyclist Course). Other Ambulance Services (CAAS), revision and update of the Complete achievements that decade included personnel should Guide and the the Complete Guide to Public Safety maintain ITK. Additionally, we Cycling and the Fundamental Skills certifications. There are a lot have formed a task force for Public Safety Cycling DVD. I mentioned Al and of great things to address the use of Fast forward to the current day, and Kirby, my Instructor happening at e-Bikes (see page 9). IPMBA boasts nearly 3000 active Trainers. IPMBA has IPMBA, and My challenge to you is, members. 68% of members are 20 active Instructor get involved in certified Police Cyclists; 16% are Trainers, or “ITs,” as there are IPMBA! Maintain a certified EMS Cyclists; 7% are they are known. This opportunities current membership, certified Security Cyclists; and 6% elite group of subject write articles for the have obtained their BRTT matter experts are for our IPMBA News, join a certificates of completion. Our responsible for the members to committee, review membership spans 11 countries and growth and products from our get involved includes 140 active international development of our industry partners, attend members, the majority of whom are instructor the Annual Conference, Canadian. The most U.S. members cadre. IPMBA is always looking for apply for a position on the Board of reside in Pennsylvania (263), Ohio experienced instructors to join this Directors (see page 27). If you are (219), and Texas (206). essential group. Perhaps the best an instructor, start thinking now Our membership increases primarily opportunity to complete the about submitting to teach a new through professional growth and requirements is during the annual workshop at the 2019 Conference, development at the hands of our 683 conference, which will take place April 8-13, in Fort Worth, Texas. active instructors, who taught 430 June 4-9, 2018, at Washington University in Saint Louis. If you have any questions, courses (3785 students) in 2017. Of suggestions, concerns, or just want these, only 17% had memberships Although we are primarily a training to “talk”, I can always be reached at submitted by instructors with the association, I believe our [email protected]. course documentation. We need to membership is our greatest drastically increase this percentage. asset. Some would say we only care See you at Wash U! It is extremely important that our about our instructors. I disagree. instructors contribute to our growth Our instructors comprise less than 25% of our membership, and, by including membership as part of their initial training courses. I although they are vital to our remember Al Simpson and Kirby continuing operations, they are Beck stressing this in my Instructor clearly not the majority. Do you Wren Course at the 2004 IPMBA have to become an instructor or, Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. eventually, an instructor trainer? Instructors are not authorized to No. You can remain a general 2 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 27, NO. 1 2018 3 MEMBER NEWS 4 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Welcome to the 16th Annual IPMBA Product Guide. This issue of IPMBA News is all about highlighting products and services designed to enhance your safety and effectiveness, both on- and off-the-job. It features a report from Interbike as it moves from Las Vegas to Reno; several product reviews, including winter-centric ones; and the updated Product Purchase Program. It celebrates three new Corporate Members — American Bike Patrol Services, NAEMT, and RZ Mask — as well as “senior members”, like MOCEAN and R&B Fabrications, which joined in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

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