Manteca Police have secured $82,461 to purchase eight e-bikes.

The eight member bicycle patrol unit consists of eight officers who have been using pedal power to  get them out of patrol cars for a period of time to enhance community-based plocin..

Advantages of e-bikes for law enforcement include:

*Increased speed and endurance: E-bikes allow officers to cover more ground and patrol for longer periods with less fatigue. 

*Enhanced maneuverability: E-bikes can navigate congested areas and tight spaces more easily than patrol cars or traditional bicycles. 

* Improved visibility: E-bikes increase police visibility in densely populated areas, fostering a sense of community presence. 

*Faster response times: Officers can respond to calls for service more quickly, potentially leading to quicker arrests and improved public safety. 

The City Council will be asked to authorize acceptance of the grants from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District when they meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

The Bike Unit currently rides the Police Giant Talon bike. 

This bike has been a useful tool, although with the innovative E-Bike technologies the community is now using, officers are finding it more difficult to contact individuals due to their speeds. 

To help with this challenge, the Manteca Police Department applied for and received a grant to purchase four CAB Motorworks Recon electric bicycles and four RECON Interceptor Power E-Bikes.

The police brought back the bike patrol unit in 2021 after the pandemic started waning.

Almost immediate the unit made a difference.

On their first day back the Manteca Police Department’s Bicycle Unit was patrolling in the downtown area when they rolled into Library Park – a daytime haven for Downtown Manteca’s homeless population – and observed a man that looked like he was vandalizing a table.

Officers contacted a 48-year-old Manteca resident, and conducted a probation search. They discovered an illegal dagger among his possessions as well as drug paraphernalia.

He was taken into custody on the illegal weapons and drug charges and also faced a charge of vandalism.

The patrol was part of an ongoing effort by the Manteca Police Department to maintain a presence in Downtown Manteca and augment existing outreach efforts to provide services to the city’s vulnerable population that congregates there.

Outreach, enforcement, job training, and homeless shelters are all part of the ongoing efforts to create a clean and safe environment for Manteca’s citizens.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com