Briefing Room

Operations Support

Officer Dom Angiolillo (Coordinator/Trainer)
and Officer Scott Hickey
2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been utilizing bicycle patrols since 1985, in our early development into community policing. In 1992, then Sergeant Richard E. Perez, formalized the Fort Lauderdale Police Department's Bicycle Patrol, starting with two donated bicycles. These bikes were used by the Special Problems Unit to patrol the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. Today, the project has grown to thirty-one (31) marked police bicycles; with seventy-eight (78) full-time and part-time uniformed officers actively participating citywide, and over one hundred (100) trained/certified riders.

This proactive project coincided with the City's efforts for redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization, including the beach and downtown areas. The goal of the Bicycle Patrol is to re-introduce a comprehensive and consistent enforcement practice throughout Fort Lauderdale. The inherent value of the Bicycle Patrol is that it provides high visibility, accessibility, and increased mobility. The Bicycle Patrol has provided the officers with the perfect vehicle for problem solving policing by allowing interaction with the general public on a daily basis.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Bicycle Patrol has taken the lead in South Florida with bicycle training. The unit conducts in-service training, which is also open to outside agencies. In November 1993, the Fort Lauderdale Police sponsored the first of many one-day mini-conferences for bicycle patrol units from other agencies. Thirty-five officers attended the seminar from eight agencies in the tri-county area (Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach). In November 1995, the Bike Patrol hosted the area's first International Police Mountain Bicycle Association's (IPMBA) 40 hour advanced bike school at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. In April, 1996, we were successful in having the 32-hour IPMBA Police Cyclist Course approved by FDLE Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission as a State Certified Specialized Course. The course is now taught at police training centers throughout Florida. Fort Lauderdale's Bicycle Patrol has certified IPMBA instructors within its own ranks. These instructors, in turn, have certified several hundred police cyclists. We have conducted many schools both for new riders and refresher training for existing riders.

In May of 2002, officers Angiolillo and Hickey became certified to instruct and certify fire department and EMS personnel. In addition, the two officers are certified to instruct and certify civilians in the League of American Bicyclists Effective Cycling program.

Officer Dom Angiolillo (Coordinator/Trainer)
and Officer Scott Hickey
2002

In addition, the Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Patrol initiated a Citizens Bike Patrol. This group is made up of local homeowner association members, such as Sailboat Bend, who are graduates of our Citizens Police Academy. The citizens patrol their neighborhoods on bicycles performing crime watch functions. This follows a training period, which is conducted by lead instructor, Dominic Angiolillo.

The Bicycle Patrol has been featured in local and national news coverage. The Unit has been invited to attend special functions, parades, and to assist other agencies throughout the United States in developing bicycle patrols. The Fort Lauderdale Police Bicycle Patrol is making a tremendous impact in community policing and in general as a vital part of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

Briefing Room

Operations Support