Housing residents had the opportunity to speak with civilian and military police officers Aug. 7 during National Night Out at Hero Park. Four individuals, in particular, are identifiable to the community by the black-and-yellow uniforms they wear.

They are members of the Fort Lee Bike Patrol.

Bicycle units offer police greater mobility and increased community contact, since housing residents are more likely to approach officers on bikes than those in patrol cars, said Spc. Miles Frampton. Frampton has served in the bike section for just over a year, and has found this interaction to be valuable in his duty.

"I like being able to ride around the neighborhood and talk to people," said Frampton. "Making a kid smile, putting a car seat in for a mother - these things make the job worthwhile just knowing you can make a difference."

Being an avid mountain biker is also a plus for Frampton.

"I love it because riding mountain bikes is my hobby, and being able to come to work every day and ride a bike is all the better," said Frampton.

Spc. Torrian Peterson is the rookie on the bike patrol, just signing on two months ago. Peterson has served on the regular patrol, but transferred to bike when he heard they were looking for new members. He said the job requires a certain degree of friendliness, and being ‘a people person' helps because of the daily interaction with the community.

"More than anything else, you really have to want to do the job," said Peterson. "It takes a lot of community relationship-building and looking out for the kids. You have to have the right personality to do this."

Peterson takes it upon himself to project a positive image as he patrols the neighborhoods and playgrounds.

"We should try to be a role model for the kids," said Peterson. "If we can influence kids - teach them right from wrong and look out for them in our jobs, then I think we can really make a difference."

Pvt. Kyrie O'Harra also finds interacting with neighborhood children the most rewarding part of her job. As a Soldier with the 217th Military Police Detachment, the physical aspect of being on the bike patrol has its merits too. A typical day can tally anywhere between five to 20 miles on the bike, and when working a swing shift, the miles add up quickly, said O'Harra.

"I like the extra training because it's helped my PT scores, especially with my running," said O'Harra.

A routine day for her begins at 6 a.m. for the PT formation with the detachment. The work day can include everything from running radar, conducting child seat safety checks at the gates, or patrolling the installation on bike.

When her shift ends, O'Harra has been suiting up this summer as the catcher for the Provost Marshal Office softball team. Sgt. Mike Ramsey, bike patrol's senior member, is a pitcher on the team.

Ramsey said that community policing is their main responsibility on the bike patrol, but they respond to the same calls as the regular police force. Their shifts are generally eight hours, which can sometimes extend until 11 p.m.

"We will patrol later at night to make sure curfews are being met, and sometimes as early as 5 a.m. to make sure drivers aren't speeding on post," said Ramsey, who has served three years in the bike section.

Ramsey said they are pretty close-knit, because they spend more time together than when on regular patrol.

"The regular patrols don't always have the luxury of being in the car with another officer," said Ramsey.

"We ride in pairs or sometimes as a group of four. When we take our breaks, we'll talk, maybe discuss a problem we're having. I'd say we're a pretty tight group."

As far as excitement goes on the bike patrol, Ramsey said everybody that has this duty will have at least one story about falling off the bike, although getting somebody to tell it is a bit difficult.

"I bruised my tailbone once, but we won't talk about that now," O'Harra said with a smile.

"I didn't actually fall off, but I almost fell off before catching myself."

Ramsey said there hasn't been too many bumps and bruises in recent years, but recalled somebody who flipped over the handlebars after hitting a grate on the street.

"It happens, but it hasn't much lately," he said.

Typically, a military member will stay in the bike section for a year. If they are doing a commendable job and are not needed on another assignment, then they can continue the mission.

But Ramsey said it's a hard job to fill. The idea of working on bike squad seems ideal in theory - outdoors, exercise, community policing - but it's the physically demanding aspect and Mother Nature that dissuade many from joining, said Ramsey.

"It seems everybody wants to be on the bike squad, but when the time comes around to fill out a resume, very few of them do it," said Ramsey. "I believe that a lot of people just don't want to be out peddling the bike in the cold of winter and the heat of summer. You have to be a special type (of person) to choose the bike patrol and stay with it."

The current members of the section seem content and committed to job. When approached separately and asked why they chose the bike patrol, all four simply answered, "I love it."

Mike Strasser, staff writer Ft Lee Traveler