Development

During a period of department budget proposals in 1999, the concept of an All Terrain Vehicle (A.T.V.) Patrol for the Piqua Police Department was first introduced.  This was during the early stages of the development of the Piqua Activity Trails for your Health (P.A.T.H.). 

With the development of the P.A.T.H. came the development of the Piqua Police Department Bicycle Patrol. While the bike patrol was somewhat sufficient for patrolling the P.A.T.H., and fit with the department's community oriented policing philosophy, it was recognized that there were severe limitations regarding response time to calls for service, utilizing the bikes. While there are situations where the bike patrol may have some advantages, there is also a very limited amount of equipment, report forms etc, a bike patrol officer has available with them, on patrol. 

A bicycle patrol officer might average 5 - 10 M.P.H. while on patrol, taking approximately 2-4 hrs to cover the city's entire P.A.T.H. system, one complete time. Even doubling this speed in response to calls for service, severely limits a bicycle patrol officer's response to calls for service, in many residential neighborhoods, and particularly in outlying areas of the city.  In addition, with the department's limited manpower, it was frequently necessary to recall an officer from bike patrol, to return to patrol car duties, so he or she would be able to quickly respond to calls for service, and so the P.A.T.H. would not be patrolled. The answer to this dilemma was an A.T.V. Patrol, which could also be utilized for search and rescue operations, and parade details and special events, such as the Piqua Heritage Festival.

A.T.V. Patrol Officer Greets a Citizen

Acquisition

In January 2005, the department was able to obtain funding through the budget process in order to bring this program to life.  The original concept proposal and bid specifications were developed by Lt. Bill Collins, who has in excess of thirty years experience, riding many kinds of all terrain vehicles including dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and both three and four-wheeled A.T.V.s.  He recognized the versatility these vehicles would offer the department. Bids were received from seven dealers and the lowest, best bid was received from Adrenaline Motorsports, a Suzuki dealer located in Sidney, Ohio.

The department then took delivery of two Suzuki Eiger 400cc, 4X4 Automatics, and each was equipped with a 3000 lb winch.  A small utility trailer, capable of both hauling an A.T.V. and being pulled by an A.T.V., was later purchased with assistance from The Piqua Home Depot. 

One of the A.T.V.s was equipped with a detachable snowplow, to assist with snow removal in the department's parking lots and sidewalks.  In addition, each A.T.V. was equipped with a spotlight and a storage box containing a large first aid kit, fire extinguisher, traffic safety vest, rain gear, gloves and goggles, rescue rope, tow chain, and a magnetic emergency light (to be used only when directing traffic).  The department also received a grant, for the purchase of one Automatic Electronic Defibrillator from The Upper Valley Medical Center.  This unit has been purchased and the department is currently seeking funding for the purchase of a second A.E.D.

Part of the Training is Learning to
Operate the A.T.V in Various Situations
Such as Hillsides

Training

Training needs were previously researched, and Lt. Collins attended training provided by the A.T.V. Safety Institute.  He became certified as an agency instructor, able to train the department's officers in basic riding skills, with proper technique and riding safety as a primary objective. In addition to this training, a lesson plan unique to the Piqua Police Department was developed. Classroom and practical training took place at the Honda Rider Training Center located in Troy, Ohio, on the P.A.T.H., as well as at the Piqua Police Department. Like Suzuki, Honda is also a member of the A.T.V. Safety Institute.

Training at the Honda Rider
Training Center

A.T.V. Patrol on the Linear Park
Behind the Municipal Government Complex

Implementation

While the A.T.V. patrol program debuted in April 2005, with some officers completing required training, the weather remained very cold and inclement, with frequent bouts of rain and snow. The P.A.T.H. was being utilized by few citizens. With the weather finally giving way to warmer temperatures in May, the P.A.T.H. has seen more frequent use by the citizens, and the A.T.V. Patrols have been extensively utilized. 

In the month of May alone, it is expected the A.T.V. Patrol will likely surpass the 400 mile mark, primarily patrolling the P.A.T.H., as well as responding to calls for service as necessary, throughout the city.  For the month of May 2004, the bike patrol was likely to have patrolled less than 40 miles of the P.A.T.H., and responded to very few calls for service, located elsewhere in the city. Many times the bike patrols were simply not utilized because extended response times to calls for service via the bikes would have endangered the lives of both citizens and officers.   

Patrolling the Linear Park

The officers have already discovered the versatility of patrolling with the A.T.V.s.  Many times an A.T.V. Patrol officer has been the first officer on the scene of calls for service, including alarms, domestic situations and even traffic crashes.  This is not because of the speed of the A.T.V.s (maximum of 50 MPH), but because of their maneuverability and ability to utilize various combinations of exits from the P.A.T.H. (some of which would be too treacherous for bikes) and the streets and alleys. 

In fact, during the first few weeks of operation, officers have already used the winch of an A.T.V. to retrieve a water filled kayak belonging to a heart attack victim, on the Miami River, which otherwise may have been irretrievable. The officers have also noticed they are able speak with citizens just as easily as they did while patrolling on the bikes, and in fact, both children and adults seem to be drawn to the A.T.V.s more so, than when the bikes were used. This continues to be in standing with the department's community oriented policing philosophy.     

A.T.V. Patrol Visits
Wilder Intermediate School

Vision

The vision for the department's A.T.V. Patrol program is that it will enable the officers to be more efficient in the delivery of police services to the community. This is being accomplished through increased patrols of the P.A.T.H., while at the same time alleviating manpower issues relating to an officer being stuck on a bicycle in some remote location on the P.A.T.H., while he or she may be needed to respond to an emergency call, located many miles away, on the opposite side of the city. The department also recognizes that there are likely many uses of the A.T.V.s, for which they have yet to discover.  

Police A.T.V. Patrols May Travel the Streets for the
Purpose of Police Department Business - 
Non-Police A.T.V.s are Not Permitted
Unless Licensed as a Motor Vehicle

A.T.V.s & the Law

While the Piqua Police Department's A.T.V. Patrols frequently can be seen on the streets of the city, we want to make it clear that this is permitted by law, strictly for the purposes of police department business, under both Ohio Revised Code 4519.41(B) and Piqua City Ordinance Section 75.28(B), whenever the "local authority having jurisdiction" so permits.  No other A.T.V.s are permitted to be operated on any city streets or highways, unless they are inspected by a motor vehicle inspector, and equipped, titled, and licensed as a motor vehicle, under Ohio law.

For information on A.T.V. Ridercourse Training near you, contact the A.T.V. Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887, or visit them on the web at www.atvsafety.org.

For more information on the Piqua Police Department A.T.V. Project, Contact Lt. Bill Collins at 937-778-2027 or bcollins@piquaoh.org