When SPC Charles Homer puts on a bicycle helmet and a reflective shirt, he's not getting dressed for physical exercise - he's getting ready for work.
Homer, 209th Military Police Detachment, is one of 12 MPs on Fort Benning's bicycle patrol, which patrols the installation's housing areas from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Mounted on 21-speed mountain bikes outfitted with sirens and warning lights, the bicycle patrol's purpose is to establish a closer relationship between MPs and the community, said SFC Tim Morgan, operations sergeant for the Directorate of Emergency Services.
"We're here for the community and we want to make sure they know that," he said. "The bike patrol is our way of going out and being directly involved in the neighborhood, of getting boots on the ground."
The bicycle patrols provide an increased MP presence during the summer months, when the community, especially children, spend more time outdoors. To maximize contact with the community and to best monitor children's safety, patrols go out in the evening, Morgan said.
"That's when people are out having barbecues, walking and jogging, and when the kids are out playing," he said. "We want our bike patrols to be out when the community's out."
Visibility is one of the biggest advantages of using bicycles because it helps establish trust, Morgan said.
"A lot of times in a patrol car, you've got the windows up and when you drive by somebody you don't really say a lot to them," he said. "But these guys' job is to stop, say 'Hi,' ask people how they're doing and what kind of issues they're having in the community. The kids get to know their bike guys, and they talk to them."
"I think it's good that they're here," said 6-year old Nevaeh Villanueva of McGraw Village, who paused during an improvised game of baseball Monday to chat with Homer and SSG Christopher Olver, 209th MP Detachment. "It's good to make sure people aren't doing anything (bad.)"
Riding through McGraw Village Monday, Homer and Olver greeted nearly every resident they passed with a wave and a "hello." They joked about sports team rivalries and updated residents on the day's events.
"The bike patrols are like the eyes and ears in the housing areas," said Olver, who also served on bicycle patrol in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. "I've found that if you have a proactive bike patrol, the children are more apt to talk to military police, and they and their parents more likely to report crimes. We get better, more detailed reports and can resolve issues more quickly."
While traffic and helmet regulations are the main violations bicycle patrols deal with, they also provide backup when more serious issues occur.
"They're quick first responders," Morgan said. "If something happens in the housing areas, they're already there."
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