This is my rough draft for my story that is soon to be published after getting some more follow-up information.

For Officer David Randt, a seven-year veteran of the Sanford Police Department, summer patrols look different than they do for most officers. Instead of a cruiser, Randt patrols the city on a bicycle. 

“We started the bike patrol stuff, and it’s kind of just every summer. It’s been part of what I do,” Randt said. 

Randt never fails to enforce safety when riding his bike. By suiting up with a helmet before going on his trail, he said he wants to, “send the right message.” In doing so, he will often stop by Diary Queen to get some tokens. In case, while on patrol he passes by a child wearing a helmet, he will then give them a token as a reward for them doing the right thing. The token allows the children who wear their helmet to redeem a free sundae. 

Randt, who served 21 years in the U.S. Army before joining the police department, is the primary rider for Sanford’s bike patrol program. The program is designed as a community policing tool to increase officer visibility and interaction with residents. 

“We’ve had bikes for at least 20 years, but there was a point in time where we didn’t really have anybody out on them, probably for the last 10 to 12 years,” said Chief Eric Small. “We decided a couple summers ago to get him out there.” 

The bike allows Randt to access areas that patrol cars cannot, including the city’s trail system and parks. His patrol area is centered on downtown Sanford, extending to the high school and middle school, and includes trails near Number One Pond and the rail trail in Springvale.

“It’s a lot less gear,” Randt said of the bike compared to a cruiser. He carries a bag with essentials such as a note pad and first aid kit, along with all the gear strapped to him on his vest. The bike does not have a GPS tracker, so Randt texts his location to his supervisor before patrolling less-trafficked areas for safety. 

Officers assigned to bike patrol must complete a week-long certification course through the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The training covers road rules, advanced riding skills and officer safety tactics, including using the bicycle as a barrier during interactions. 

“The training goes into different braking skills, different turning skills, up and downstairs, different ways to use the bike for your own safety,” Officer Randt said. 

Though the bike patrol program was inactive for a decade before being revived two years ago. The department has about five certified bike officers, but staffing shortages limit the program’s availability. Randt is able to ride frequently because his role in the mental health unit provides scheduling flexibility.

“Law enforcement right now, nationally, is facing shortages and staffing challenges. We’re not immune from that here,” said Small. “We have to fill the police cars first.”

The bike patrol operates during the summer months. Randt typically rides for one to one-and-a-half hours at a time, returns to the station to hydrate, then heads back out. He rotates through different parts of the city throughout the day. He regularly stops to interact with residents, including people fishing at Number One Pond and walkers on the trails. He also responds to calls and assists other officers when needed. 

“I’ve gotten flagged down by random people, ‘Hey can I ask you a question?’,” said Randt. “I was like, ‘Hey, this is kind of cool.” 

Small said he has received positive feedback from residents about the bike patrol. “People send me emails or calls saying, ‘Hey, we saw a bike patrol officer. That’s awesome!,” Small said. 

Randt has acknowledged that some residents, particularly those with past negative experiences with law enforcement, are hesitant to engage with him. He said he tries to overcome that by treating everyone with the same level of respect. 

“Everybody deserves the same amount of respect,” Randt said. “If it’s a community member that’s walking their dog, or one of our people that we deal with every other day, they all deserve the same respect.” 

He explained his goal is to remain calm and approachable in all interactions. “You win every fight that you don’t get in,” Randt said. “If I’m calm and approachable, most people can get that sense from me, and they can calm down and can have a conversation.” 

The department uses standard bicycles rather than electric models. Officer Randt said officers collectively preferred traditional bikes because they are lighter, easier to repair and better suited for the city’s local patrol area. 

“We’re supported by the city financially to do it,” Small said. “It’s just a good program altogether.”