Where the rubber meets the road: Bike Patrol Published May 27, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Jim Brock 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The 910th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) plays a vital role in protecting Airmen, aircraft and property here. The squadron’s Bike Patrol is a recent capability addition to their mission. Staff Sgt. Adam Tyjeski, a 910th SFS response team member, performs part of his duty in Security Forces as a Bike Patrolman. “Bike patrol duty gives us more opportunities to interact with the people that you don’t normally get to do from a patrol car, to perform what is called community policing,” said Tyjeski, noting bike patrols were utilized during the 2014 Thunder Over the Valley Air Show to help keep the estimated crowd of 35,000 spectators and keep a safe environment during the two-day event. Members of the patrol ride mountain-style bicycles equipped with saddle bags and marked with the word ‘Police.’ The bikes are black, equipped with red and blue lights to identify the riders as law enforcement officers. The patrolmen wear distinctive black short-sleeved shirts, shorts trimmed in white and marked with the words ‘Police’ and white helmets trimmed in black to help them stand out in a crowd. According to 910th SFS, the training course to become certified as a bike patrolman includes completing a twenty mile bike ride and successfully negotiating an obstacle course that includes riding around objects and down stairs. This training proves endurance and bike handling skills needed when performing an eight hour shift on a bicycle. “If you are in good shape it’s not too intense, but it definitely wears you out,” added Tyjeski. “It’s also great exercise; I never realized how much elevation change is on this base until I was on a bike for twenty minutes.” According to SFS, bike patrolmen can respond anywhere on the base with the exception of the fight line. The flight line must be patrolled with weapons heavier than a sidearm which is the only firearm bike patrolmen carry. Tyjeski said Master Sgt. Robert Plant, a 910th SFS squad leader, was instrumental in establishing the YARS bike patrol. Plant, who is also a Department of Defense police officer at YARS, worked with local police agencies to become a certified instructor and initiate the installation’s bike patrolman course.