Police Officer 2 Jason T. Tarkong, a certified police bike patrol instructor, said the program started in 2000 but it has not been consistent over the years due to economic constraints and lack of manpower.
“Department of Public Safety Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela initiated the move to revive the certification of police officers for the bike patrol,” Tarkong said.
He said nine DPS officers and four Commonwealth Ports Authority police officers will be certified.
The program includes training on bicycle riding techniques.
Bike patrol is not about driving fast like the response units of 911, Tarkong said.
It is riding nice and slow for police visibility, he added.
“The bike patrol is mostly a pro-active community oriented police program or COPS,” Tarkong said.
He added bicycles can gain easier access to most areas than patrol cars and can respond quicker.
The bike patrol is much more useful particularly in the Garapan tourist area.
Tarkong said over 20 police officers are certified bike patrol police officers on Saipan.
“With the additional 14 officers now, we will have 34 certified bike patrol police officers,” he said.
“On behalf of DPS, I would like to extend our thanks to DFS president Marian Aldan-Pierce for giving us free access to the parking space on the rooftop of DFS for our bike drills,” Tarkong said.
PO1 JJ Cabrera is the program’s assistant instructor.
The police officers who will be certified are PO1 Maverick Saures, PO1 Kelly Camacho, PO1 Patrick Maanao, PO1 Antonio Kaipat, PO1 John K. Wabol, PO1 Rodolfo Hermosilla, PO2 Miguel Camacho, PO2 Jesus Cepeda and PO3 Frankie Pangelinan.
The CPA officers who will be certified are PO1 Jack Deleon Guerrero, PO1 Juliano Matsutaro, PO1 Jason Cruz and PO1 Anthony Camacho.
