Virginia Commonwealth University Police expands use of e-bike patrols

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Police has expanded its use of e-bike patrols on the university’s campuses.

According to an article on VCU’s website by Brian McNeill , VCU Police now has nine e-bikes to use to patrol VCU’s campuses and engage with students, faculty, staff and members of the Richmond community more effectively.

In the article, McNeill reports that VCU Police acquired two e-bikes about a year ago, and began testing them on patrols, which were proven successful. Since then, the department has acquired seven more e-bikes heading into the university’s fall semester.

The e-bikes are part of VCU Police’s Division of Patrol Operations, which is staffed by more than 60 sworn officers and 12 supervisors who patrol the Monroe Park and MCV campuses in marked and unmarked cars, on bicycles and by foot, according to McNeill.

VCU Police currently has 25 officers who have completed a 40-hour, International Police Mountain Bike Association basic training in addition to specific e-bike familiarization training, with more officers expected to complete the e-bike training soon.

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