Green Bay Police Department's Mobile Response Team. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Police Department showed off its newest set of wheels Thursday.
The department’s Mobile Response Team was seen pedaling around town as they underwent monthly training.
This team, which consists of officers on mountain bikes, is designed for crowded places where traveling by patrol car isn’t optimal.
“It’s not a crowd-control unit. This unit is based on the idea that we’re peace officers and our job is to maintain peace and order,” said GBPD Lt. Jason Allen.
The Mobile Response Team underwent two weeks of training with the Milwaukee Police Department back in May.
A benefit Green Bay police see is officers on the team appear more approachable than your typical officer in a squad car.
The bikes were purchased with state grant money from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In total, there are 26 bikes. Once outfitted with all the equipment, GBPD believes the final cost for each bike to be around $2,500.
Some of that equipment, like the saddle-mounted bags with first aid kits inside — were also paid for through a grant from Capital Credit Union.
The Mobile Response Team has officially been deployed three times. The first was during first lady Jill Biden’s visit to Green Bay in June. A second time was for Green Bay’s Fourth of July festivities.
The unit also made the trip down to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, working alongside other bicycle units from Milwaukee and Charlotte.
“Being able to see those other agencies that have had bicycle teams for years, see them work, allowing us to work in complement with them together, really was an eye-opening experience and we learned a ton down there,” said Allen.
Police say the response team will be ready to deploy for other high-profile events, such as political visits ahead of the November election and next year’s NFL Draft in Green Bay.
“We’re hoping that this unit can be deployed any time there’s a crowd assembly, and we’re expecting a fairly large crowd come the NFL Draft season, and I expect our Mobile Response Team to be outside that venue ensuring everybody’s safety,” said Allen.
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