FRANKLIN COUNTY — After buying two electrical bikes, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies have a brand new probability to get within the saddle.
Capt. John Grismore introduced the acquisition of the 2 bikes Tuesday.
“The acquisition of these bikes will help the office continue our mission of developing and maintaining strong relationships in the communities we serve while doing our part to be environmentally conscious,” Grismore said in a press launch.
Starting out, the regulation enforcement company will probably be utilizing the electrical bikes primarily for special events. The first electrical bike was rolled out during St. Albans Bay Day, and the second will probably be prepared for its check run during Franklin County Field Days.
There’s potential, nevertheless, to broaden how officers’ use the bikes down the road. In the long run, Grismore informed the Messenger e-bikes can entry areas {that a} cruiser can’t go, like alongside the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, or they can be utilized in excessive service areas that bikes can extra simply entry.
For instance, Grismore stated he might see e-bikes getting used on the northern finish of St. Albans in industrial areas resembling by Walmart or Hannaford. They may also be utilized within the downtowns of Enosburg Falls or Richford.
Potential advantages would come with slicing down on the bills wanted to run and preserve a typical cruiser whereas additionally permitting officers to be nearer to the general public whereas on patrol. By getting deputies out of the cruiser, Grismore stated the bikes may also help foster new group interactions.
The electric-bikes, nevertheless, gained’t give you the chance to exchange a typical cruiser. While the bikes include lights and sirens, the sheriff’s workplace can nonetheless name in a cruiser in case of an arrest or comparable state of affairs requiring transport.
“You can’t take somebody into custody on a bike,” Grismore stated. “It’s not designed to replace, but to supplement.”
The value of every bike was $4,800, which was coated by a number of native companies.
The thought to buy the bikes was initially pushed ahead by Dep. Greg Jones, and Grismore stated Jones went round to discover companies keen to assist with the brand new program. The full checklist of companies could be discovered under.
“The tremendous outpouring that we got from businesses blew us away,” Grismore stated. “We’re humbled by that.”
If the e-bike program is profitable, he might see different police departments within the space looking for the identical advantages the bikes can present officers.
When requested if the St. Albans Police Department had thought of a bicycle patrol program, Chief Maurice Lamothe stated the division had mentioned the problem.
“We do not currently have a bike patrol unit,” Lamothe stated by e-mail. “It is something we have considered and given the right combination of staffing and personnel we may get there in the future.”
Participating companies who gave to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office e-bike program embody:
-
St. Albans Glass
-
Community Bank
-
Community National Bank
-
Nan’s Mobile
-
People’s Trust Company
-
Mckee’s Pub
-
Vermont Federal Credit Union
-
Haddad Subaru
-
The Abbey Group
-
Handy GMC
-
Curt’s Automotive
-
TD Bank
-
Mill River Brewing BBQ & Smokehouse