History - Fort Worth Bike Patrol

In 1991, the Fort Worth Police Department recognized a need to decrease crime and increase police presence in the downtown area. At the same time, a new and innovative concept in Community Policing was shown to be incredibly successful in the downtown area of Seattle, Washington. This new technique was the Police Bicycle Patrol Unit. The North Division Foot Patrol Unit then evolved into the city's Bike Patrol Unit, one of the first units established in Texas.

The unit began with nine officers and bicycles. Some of the original bicycles were purchased new and some were appropriated through the auto pound. The uniform consisted of the regular police polyester uniform shirt, which was extremely hot and uncomfortable in the summer, a pair of BDU shorts, and black athletic shoes. Today's downtown unit has grown to include 20 officers and bicycles, and a unique bike-specific uniform more suited to the duties involved and more conducive to the Texas heat. All of the bicycles in use today were purchased new and are Trek mountain bicycles made with a police specific package.

The bike patrol also consists of neighborhood police officers (NPO) that have an option of performing their duties in a police patrol vehicle or on a bicycle. The NPOs typically carry a bicycle on the back of their patrol vehicle, which gives them the ability to ride the bicycle at will. The NPOs have discovered the bicycles enable to officers to have more personal interaction with the citizens in the neighborhoods, and, of course the obvious, the bike riding contributes to the officer's fitness. There are over 70 bike certified officers throughout the department and outside of the Downtown and West 7th Street bicycle units.