HOA board provides pedal power for The Villages

The Villages in Rancho El Dorado’s HOA board recently approved the purchase of two bicycles to initiate a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) bike patrol in that housing development.

Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez, Public Information Officer Mike Minter and Cpl. Kent Ogaard joined HOA President Peg Chapados and members of the board Monday evening for the presentation of the funds which will be forwarded to the Pinal County Justice Foundation. The $1,600 will purchase two fully outfitted patrol bikes, which will be ridden by bicycle-trained PCSO deputies in The Villages within the next two weeks.

“What better way to utilize $2 per household?” queried Chapados. “We’re thrilled to be the first HOA in Maricopa to be able to assist members of our law enforcement community in this endeavor.”

Ogaard, who recently took bicycle patrol training, explained that bicycles could go places cruisers cannot and should not go. “Bicycle officers are more approachable and more community friendly,” he noted, adding that it is often difficult to stop a cruiser and communicate with deputies to report criminal or suspicious activities.

One of the best parts of patrolling on bicycles is that often the criminal or offenders never see the law enforcement contact coming. Patrolling on bicycles allows deputies to actually observe violations in progress and aid in the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals operating in green belts, parks, business areas and on street corners.

Community response to the bicycle patrol has been overwhelming. Homeowner associations like The Villages, block watches and private individuals have come forward with donations of equipment and monies to ensure the continued success of this pilot program. The Sheriff’s Office, hoping to make a permanent commitment to community safety, provides overtime pay for bike patrol deputies. They are assigned, almost specifically, to the areas that provided the bikes.

If you want to get involved in bringing the patrol to your neighborhood or simply for more information on the Bicycle Patrol Unit and its function, contact Sgt. Stormy Wallace or Cpl. Kent. Ogaard of the PCSO’s Community Response Unit at (520) 866-5111.

Photos by Joyce Hollis