OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Concerns about homeless encampments and illegal motorized vehicles have prompted OPD to increase their bike patrols. Now 25 officers rotate through patrols, four hours a day, seven days a week.
- The Omaha Police Department has been increasing its use of bike patrols for about eight years now, and in 2023 expanded trail patrols to the whole metro.
- The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is also rolling out its own bike patrol. Deputies will monitor the Heartwood Preserve and other trails in unincorporated Douglas County.
- Most of the bikes used by officers come from the local business Volcanic, a company run by retired law enforcement.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Many neighbors say they’re concerned about who and what they’re encountering on Omaha’s trail systems, describing some situations as potentially dangerous. In response, the Omaha Police Department is increasing its patrol efforts on trails across the metro.
Vanessa Urbach, with the Safe Trails Initiative, is an avid runner and trail user who knows the importance of staying safe when she is outdoors…