Officer
  • Honoring The Fallen
  • Publications
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Forums
  • Contact Us
  • Vehicles & Fleet
  • Tactical
  • Training & Careers
  • On The Street
  • Investigations
  • Command/HQ
  • Technology
  • Virtual Academy
  • Stations
  • Podcasts
  • Product Guide
  • Topics
    Vehicles & FleetTacticalTraining & CareersOn The StreetInvestigationsCommand/HQTechnologyProduct Guide
    Resources
    ForumsProduct GuideHonoring The FallenBy ContributorsExpert InsightsPublicationsWhitepapersWebinarsOriginal ContentJobs
    User Tools
    SubscribeAdvertiseContact UsPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions
    https://www.facebook.com/officercom
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/officer-com
    https://twitter.com/officercom
    1. Vehicles & Fleet
    2. Vehicles & Equipment
    3. Bicycles & Accessories

    Injuries Not Deterring Milwaukee Bike Patrol

    Oct. 4, 2011
    Five Milwaukee police bicycle patrol officers have been injured in the past month -- the latest on Saturday -- but that won't make police officials take bike officers off the streets.

    Five Milwaukee police bicycle patrol officers have been injured in the past month -- the latest on Saturday -- but that won't make police officials take bike officers off the streets.

    "It's a hazardous duty in that you don't have a squad car around you," said Capt. Don Gaglione, who's in charge of the Neighborhood Task Force and rides a bicycle himself. "I don't think any of this is a risk that's above and beyond what we do on a daily basis. It's part of the job. It's an inherent danger to be a police officer. It's an inherent danger to be a bicycle officer. But the five in a month is obviously more than we'd like to see any time."

    In the latest incident Saturday, a 26-year-old bike officer was struck in a crosswalk at Fond du Lac Ave. and W. Capitol Drive by an 84-year-old driver. The officer is recovering at home from minor injuries. The driver was cited for failure to yield the right of way.

    Another officer was struck by a 47-year-old suspected drunken driver from Mequon as the officer conducted a traffic stop shortly before 9 p.m. Sept. 15 in the 1500 block of W. Vliet St., according to police.

    Three officers were struck in a hit-and-run incident in the 1100 block of W. Lincoln Ave. shortly before 12:45 a.m. Sept. 9.

    Last year, only two bike officers were injured, Gaglione said.

    The recent streak of accidents was not the fault of the officers, he said, but of drivers who were either drunk or not paying attention.

    "None of these officers did anything wrong," he said. "It's just a lot of incidents in a short period of time. Drunk drivers, inattentive drivers. . . . People need to be aware of their surroundings, people who are driving. Be aware of the bicycles that are out there and take precautions for them."

    Gaglione denied that insufficient lights on the bikes contributed to any of the accidents.

    "None of these incidences have anything to do with inappropriate lighting or not correct lighting," he said. "All of our bicycles, based on the state statute, have the lighting that is required for both the front and the rear of the bicycle. Every one of our bikes has had that."

    Nevertheless, he said, officers are testing a couple of sets of lights purchased with some of the $13,000 donated by philanthropists in response to the Sept. 15 incident. The money was donated to provide special lights and replace the officer's bike, which was destroyed in that crash.

    Gaglione said bicycle officers have several advantages over other officers: They can sneak up on people faster than officers on foot, are not as easily observed as officers in a squad car and engage more quickly with people they encounter.

    Milwaukee police have about 90 bike officers.

    Copyright 2011 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    McClatchy-Tribune News Service

    Continue Reading

    Milwaukee Police Chief, Veteran Officer Injured in Rear-End Collision

    Iowa Police Officer Dies after Suffering Severe Injuries in 2011 Crash

    Sponsored Recommendations

    Whitepaper: A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

    July 28, 2023
    Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge

    A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

    June 6, 2023
    Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge.

    Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

    Feb. 8, 2023
    Discover advanced technology that allows officers in the field to listen to emergency calls from their vehicles in real time and immediately identify the precise location of the...

    2022 Transparency and Trust Report - Public Safety & Community Relationships

    Nov. 16, 2022
    Veritone releases its 2022 Law Enforcement Transparency and Trust Report delivering Five Key Findings of Community Sentiment on Policing

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!

    I already have an account

    Latest in Bicycles & Accessories

    Maxresdefault 65256796420cf
    Bicycles & Accessories

    State Troopers Join Ore. Police Department's Downtown Bike Patrols

    Oct. 10, 2023
    Photo 56513804 | 911 © Rafael Ben Ari | Dreamstime.com
    A San Francisco police officer patrols on a bike in 2015.
    On the Street

    San Francisco Supervisor Revives Plan to Boost Police Foot Patrols

    Sept. 26, 2023
    PPV-TAHOE | YouTube
    An Orlando, FL, police officer was dragged by a fleeing driver following a brief struggle that was caught on video by a bystander Wednesday.
    On the Street

    Fla. Bike Officer Dragged by Car after Struggle with Driver

    Nov. 17, 2022

    Most Read

    New Calif. Police Officer Sworn In at Hospital with Newborn Son

    How the Expansion of Mexican Cartels to Europe is Impacting US Law Enforcement

    Bodycam: Calif. Police Fatally Shoot Man Charging with Knife

    Sponsored

    Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

    Whitepaper: A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

    Officer
    https://www.facebook.com/officercom
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/officer-com
    https://twitter.com/officercom
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Do Not Sell or Share
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    © 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
    Endeavor Business Media Logo