The Lacombe Police Service will be adding a two man bike unit to their patrols this spring.

Thanks to a donation from the Lacombe Kinsmen worth $5,000, a pair of bikes, and all the equipment needed for patrols like emergency kits, clothing, and helmets will be purchased.

Constable Jeffrey Hewitt says the LPS and community will see a number of benefits from the new bike unit "we have a lot of theft from vehicles at night, so it's a great way to go through the back alleys here unheard, they can hear vehicles, so you can sneak up on people.  And then just different events like when they have Lacombe Days, they're just great for the people to interact with".

Hewitt has experience using the bikes while working with the RCMP, and he says "bike patrol you're very approachable on a bike, it's one way that you can interact with the community, it's a less intimidating approach, people can interact with you a lot better". 

Training will start as soon as the snow starts to melt, with the bike unit then hosting a rodeo to teach kids about bicylce safety.