YAKIMA, Wash.-- Last week we told you about Yakima police possibly bringing back bike patrols to the downtown area. After a successful First Friday test run, they've decided to re-implement the program next summer.
Folks in Yakima haven't seen bike patrols out since the early 90's, after police had to scrap the program due to a lack of funding.
But now, YPD is bringing them back to hopefully make people feel a little safer when they're downtown.
Two officers tried out the program last week, and Captain Rod Light says the positive feedback is what prompted them to make the decision to bring it back full-time next summer.
"It brings a very unique element of surprise to people engaging in criminal activity because you're so stealth in your approach to them," said Capt. Light.
Light says the department is in talks with the union to figure out who will be able to staff the new unit.
He says officers will work in pairs and patrol the downtown area both during the week and weekends.
Back in the late 80's and early 90's it wasn't uncommon for bike patrols to make 20 arrests on a busy weekend night.
