The Tullahoma Police Department has taken another step in improving the services to the citizens and visitors of their community. Four officers assigned to the Patrol division have received certification from the Police Mountain Bike Association. The officers recently completed a weeklong training program at the Franklin Police Department, Franklin, TN. As part of the training the officers were required to complete progressively longer and demanding bike courses. Also included was training on maintenance of the bicycles and techniques to navigate obstacles and tactically dismount from the bicycle. The assignment to the bike patrol is in addition to their daily duties as a member of the Patrol division. The department will deploy the bike patrol at public events where the use of a vehicle is not practical; to provide traffic control at activities such as fun runs, walks, community bike rides and greenway patrol. The officers will also utilize the bicycles to patrol areas that might have incidents that can be detected more easily by officers on bicycles or foot. An additional advantage of the bike patrol is the interaction with the community. The bike patrol is primarily a Community Oriented Policing practice that provides for interaction with the community and partnership building with our citizens and visitors. The department’s mission statement focuses on enhancing the quality of life for our citizens and visitors; we believe this is another step to provide for the type of community we desire and deserve. Those assigned to the bike patrol are: Officer Derrick Derlien, Officer Chase Sons, Officer Matt Watson, and Officer Daryn Gadeken. Any questions about the bike patrol can be directed to Lieutenant Ray Higginbotham at (931) 455-0530 or Chief Paul Blackwell at (931) 455-0530, or pblackwell@tullahomatn.gov.
