City of Erie Police granted funds for 10 electric bikes

The City of Erie Police Department continues to increase their community policing effort, the department now has some new equipment that’s helping officers get to know the community they serve better.

With the help of grant money, the City of Erie Police Department is equipped with 10 new e-bikes, we hear from the city’s new community liaison who says these bikes make Erie police more approachable.

The Erie Police Department receiving about $70,000 in grant money for ten electric bikes that can travel up to 28 mph.

They’ve been added to saturation unit to strengthen the partnership between the community and the police.

Daryl Craig, the City of Erie’s community liaison, said these bikes are a useful tool. Craig said through his work with the Blue Coats, an organization that promotes non-violence among young people, he hears from the community.

He said the relationship between the community and police is improving.

“Its going to take a while but I believe people see effort and that makes a big difference,” said Craig. “They seem more approachable, especially in the downtown which is a great thing.”

One City of Erie police officer says when he joined the department in 2016, he was placed in a radio car and often switched shifts, and neighborhoods, he said he wasn’t able to get to know the community until he started patrolling on a bike.

“In the past three years that I’ve been able to be downtown, I get to know most people on a first name basis, and it’s really nice to have that sort of rapport with people you can alleviate issues that you might not have otherwise be able to just by knowing that person and developing that background with them,” said Max Brozell, patrolman, City of Erie Police.

“These investments that were making in the police department benefit the entire community and they save low in the city,” said Bob Merski, Pennsylvania State Representative.

State Representatives Bob Merski and Pat Harkins provided grant money for five of the e-bikes, the Gary Sinese Foundation funded other five.

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