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Field Operations Directives (FODs)

02-011 Bicycle Patrol Assignments


03-001 Code 5 Paul - Vehicle Pursuit Broadcasts
02-009 Station Feeding and Inmate Hygiene Procedures

BICYCLE PATROL ASSIGNMENTS

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Field Operations Directive is to establish policy for personnel assigned to ride bicycles in the course of their duties.

POLICY

The selection of personnel for bicycle patrol shall be at the discretion of the individual unit commander. Upon selection, all deputies will be required to attend bicycle training as outlined below.

REQUIRED TRAINING

All personnel assigned to ride bicycles in the course of their duties shall complete a

P.O.S.T. certified Bicycle Patrol Tactics Course prior to their deployment on bicycles.

  • Eight-Hour Bicycle Patrol Tactics Course
    • This eight-hour course, designed for the part-time/occasional rider, is a condensed version of the P.O.S.T. certified forty-hour course. The eight-hour course is designed to give the participant an understanding of bicycle mechanics, rules of the road, safe cycling techniques, limited patrol tactics, and bike riding techniques.
    • Units desiring to utilize bicycle patrol shall be responsible for coordinating and conducting this training course. The course may be conducted off-site and must be conducted by a Department-Certified Bicycle Patrol Tactics course instructor. A list of Department-Certified Bicycle Patrol Tactics Course instructors may be requested through the Advanced Officer Training Unit (AOT). The student-to-instructor ratio shall not exceed 6 to 1. AOT must be contacted a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the scheduled course to assist units in this process.
  • Forty-Hour Bicycle Patrol Tactics Course
    • The forty-hour course, designed for the full-time rider, is inclusive of the above eight-hour course. However, in addition to the eight-hour curriculum, the forty- hour course includes conditioning rides, additional patrol tactics, multiple terrain training, firearms training, and a patrol ride. The forty-hour course shall be conducted by AOT. Any unit desiring to send their personnel through the forty- hour course should contact AOT to enroll their personnel.
    • Any full-time rider may attend an eight-hour course initially in order to begin bicycle patrol on a part-time basis until they can attend the mandated forty-hour course. However, all deputies assigned to a full-time rider position shall attend and pass the forty-hour course within 120 days of being assigned to the position.

ELECTRIC BICYCLES

Due to the many types of electric bicycles, it is impractical to dictate what type of training personnel should receive prior to riding an electric bicycle. It shall be left to each unit commander to decide if any additional training is required based on the complexity or ease of operation of the bicycle.

BICYCLE ENFORCEMENT UNIFORMS

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Uniform Committee has designated a uniform and helmet to be worn by deputies who are deployed on bicycles. Units conducting the eight-hour training course shall submit a roster of scheduled participants to AOT at least 20 days before the course begins. AOT shall submit the approved list of participants to Logistics.  Each participant shall report to Logistics for issuance of a uniform and bicycle helmet prior to the start of either course

Participants in the eight-hour course shall be issued a bicycle helmet, one white Sheriff’s polo shirt, and one pair of the uniform short pants. Participants in the forty-hour course shall be issued a bicycle helmet, one white Sheriff’s polo shirt, one pair of the uniform short pants, one pair of the uniform long pants, and one bicycle jacket.

Cites/References

Manual of Policy and Procedures (MPP) Sections:

3-03/020.00 SPECIAL UNIFORM NEEDS

3-03/260.00 HELMETS

3-03/300.40 BICYCLE JACKET (OPTIONAL)

3-03/410.20 PULLOVER SHIRT WITH LASD LOGO

3-03/070.25 DEPUTY SHERIFF SPECIAL OPERATIONS CLOTHING