Police Are Embracing Harley's Electric Bicycles

Downsizing

More and more police departments around the U.S. are adopting electric vehicles for a number of reasons, mostly because those types of vehicles present them with lower maintenance costs over the years, which translates to budget savings. But both the Muskego Police Department in Wisconsin and the Fresno, California P.D. are going even lower in terms of upfront fleet costs and maintenance by arming officers with electric bicycles from Harley's Serial 1 brand, according to The Fresno Bee and InMenlo.

Photos: The Fresno Bee

Generous Donation

Harley and the police, in general, have a rich history together, with many departments around the country relying on those motorcycles for quite a few years now, but the e-bike phenomenon is something entirely new. The Muskego Police Department in Muskego, Wisconsin just took delivery of four of these electrified bicycles, which were donated by Serial 1, a lot that consisted of two BASH/MTN bikes and two RUSH/CTY models.

Photos: The Fresno Bee

Backing the Blue

"Serial 1 is thrilled to support the Muskego Police Department with our premium eBikes," said Serial 1 chief financial and operating officer Rex Hamilton. "Supporting the local communities that our employees, suppliers, and - most importantly - our customers call home is a priority for Serial 1. The Muskego Police Department joins other Law Enforcement Agencies across the country who are now better equipped to respond with Serial 1 eBikes. We look forward to our new partnership with Muskego PD, and want to thank the men and women who protect and serve all communities."

Photos: The Fresno Bee

Silent Approach

Out in Fresno, officers are also finding that e-bikes are a boon to their operations in more ways than just cost savings. With officers covering around 30-40 miles per day, the bikes make it far easier for them to catch unsuspecting criminals. "Criminals don’t like it," said officer Dustin Freeman. "They don’t know when we’re there. They don’t hear us coming. They don’t see us as easily, and we’re able to observe and act quicker in those interactions."

Photos: The Fresno Bee

Suitable for Some

Considering these bikes cost far less than any type of four-wheeled transportation the police might use and they're cheap to operate and maintain, that seems like a major win. Of course, e-bikes aren't suited for all police departments, but at least for the ones in more densely popular urban areas, they're a perfect fit.

Photos: The Fresno Bee

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