Constables of the Peace – Cops on Bikes in Monterey County

Scroll this post,

to see law enforcement officers on bikes

in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Greenfield, Monterey,

Salinas, and Soledad.

You’ll also see support for biking shown by California Highway Patrol,  Marina and Seaside Police Departments and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Looking for any local law enforcement agencies participating in the nationwide lip sync challenge? Scroll down to Soledad.

And for examples of bike-aware law enforcement officers here and elsewhere, see Bicycling Monterey’s “Cop Alert: Cops alert for the needs of people who bike.”

Below: Salinas PD Officer Raul Rosales at the 2017 Sea Otter Classic.

Below: Salinas PD officers at Ciclovía Salinas.

We’re proud of Monterey County’s cops on bikes.

Please help their efforts to make our county an even more bike-friendly place.

Download bike law summaries and share with others:

Leyes de ciclismo de CA – Laws for bicyclists in CA (Spanish, English) – Summary

Be Cool, Be Safe – Bike Law Summary & Advocating for Biking

Bicycle traffic law enforcement

In Monterey County, the bicycle community and leading law enforcement professionals want to avoid incidents such as this (in San Diego), where person biking was incorrectly ticketed although they had followed California law about lane usage for bicyclists (click here, and scroll down too).  San Diego responded with trainings for police officers on rights and laws, and its police department also issued a helpful memo to its officers about bicycle traffic enforcement.

In Monterey County…

We’re very fortunate to have police departments that are already pretty bike-savvy! One reason is the awareness that comes from having many PDs with officers who bike themselves, like those pictured throughout this post. See some in action!

Our local officers can also take advantage of other Monterey County biking experts by arranging special trainings for their departments.  Local cops have so many demands on their time and things to keep up with, so this training opportunity supports them in ensuring the most accurate bike law enforcement, and more positive interactions with people who bike.  Contact me to learn more.

Many of our local PDs have activities that support youth and others in biking safely. See examples from our county seat and largest city, Salinas, in Keeping the local bike scene cool. You’ll find other examples below.

Another way some of our PDs support biking is by seeing that unclaimed recovered stolen bikes get a good second life:  Marina and Salinas PDs, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office too, provide bicycles used for bike tech training at the Monterey County Youth Center; see “Getting on the Right Path–a Bike Path…”

We’re also proud in Monterey County that our largest city and county seat, Salinas, has the first PD on the West Coast with 100% of the PD trained in police legitimacy and procedural justice. This is a great first step to make any PD far better! Scroll down to the Salinas section of this web page for details. (Update: See SPD’s web page on this topic; and there, it states they were first in CA, not on entire West Coast. Nonetheless something to be proud of! http://www.salinaspd.com/content/our-approach-to-policing)

Keeping on the right side of the law

Police officers have incredibly high-stress jobs and a lot of ground to cover.  I wouldn’t want to walk in their shoes!  In the unlikely event you ever feel you’ve been incorrectly warned–or even mistakenly ticketed–by a police officer in Monterey County, please notify the head of that police department.  But first….

Know before you ride

Prevent problems:  Please review California bicycle laws.

Feel free to contact me with questions. Besides the summaries above, also see:

• CA Bike Laws and Personal Safety Tips on this site.
•  State of California Rules of the Road:  Operation of Bicycles – Spanish-language summary of California bicycle laws can be downloaded here. This is not available on DMV website as of 4/20/15, hence our sharing providing Leyes de ciclismo de CA – Laws for bicyclists in CA (Spanish, English) – Summary
•  Rules of the Road – A Summary of California Cycling Laws from the California Bicycling Coalition

Resources for police departments

Resources include Police Bike Store, which also includes an electric bike from Currie Technologies developed expressly for police patrol use.

There are many more resources for police officers–including special training to help them carry out their duties by bike. Contact me to learn more.

CA Laws include Three Feet for Safety

A new challenge for law enforcement is enforcing the Three Feet for Safety Act that became effective in CA on 9/16/14. Thanks to our cops for being #IGive3Feet role models, for educating the public (e.g.,  bumper stickers about this law on patrol cars), and for working through the challenges of enforcement as everyone–including both people who drive and people who bike–get used to this new law. For more info, click here, and be sure to note the FAQs section.

We also appreciate the educational outreach of California Highway Patrol; click here.

Special thanks to Officer Jaime Rios of the CHP’s Monterey branch for teaching Start Smart drivers about the Three Feet for Safety Act. Officer Rios also seves as a reliable information resource regarding CA bike and other traffic laws and enforcement questions.

CHP’s Chris Pia is another bike-aware law enforcement officer. When scofflaw people fail to respect the privilege of biking private property–Pebble Beach–Chris reaches out to the bike community to express property owners’ concerns. For example, proper lane usage. On 17-Mile Drive, there are long stretches of  narrow, winding road with no real shoulder. Winding areas with very tight turns include the stretch from Cypress Point to the Lodge to Huckleberry. If you’re on a group ride, ride single file, not three abreast!

Thinking of running a stop sign in Carmel-by-the-Sea? This guy says that’s not the way he rolls–and whether you’re on two wheels or more, he doesn’t want to see you do it either!

* * * * *

Keeping the Peace on Saint Pat’s

St. Pat’s Day 2011 was hopping in Monterey.  These two Constables of the Peace were snapped with a bystander’s iPhone in front of Britannia Arms.  Too bad the cops were on duty and couldn’t stop in for a meal–the Brit would give them a discount, it being a Thursday, and the Brit being in the HER Helmet Thursdays project!

Alas, these officers had to keep moving.  I saw them pedaling a few minutes later down by another HHT spot, Peter B’s Brew Pub.  They were making their way to the various bars, keeping tabs on things.  Alert and pleasant, these busy officers  briefly chatted with St. Pat’s partiers along their route, making a special contribution to keeping the peace.

There were police patrol cars about town too.  And lots of taxicabs on the move tonight–smart, those people who phone a cabbie and refrain from drinking and driving! (See tips on this site about drinking and biking.)

And there were a surprising number of people who bike–clearly folks who know there’s more than one way to travel, even at night.  Flashing bike lights and happy pedalers were seen on the streets and bike paths at least until midnight, from the Naval Postgraduate School to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This was one of those days when I worked late and desperately needed a ride–so it was going to be a night ride.  Called a couple of gals–Megan had a cold and a deadline, and Jan the Answer Man’s wife, Cath, wasn’t home.   With a bright moon, it would have been fun to head down a quiet trail with a friend.  Biking alone tonight, I decided to give up the moonlight for the bright street lights of town.

As I neared El Estero Lake, I heard music pouring across the water from the downtown area.  At first I thought nearby Trinity High School must be having a special concert.  Then I realized it was coming from further away–must be the Mucky Duck’s outdoor patio.  Sure enough, as I headed for errand destinations–the library book drop and my Post Office box–I realized it was St. Pat’s Day.  Town was buzzing, with people everywhere!

Three hours later, I ended my unplanned night ride.  It had been interspersed with stops to chat with staff at various bike-friendly businesses, including many  HER Helmet Thursdays spots–among them, the car and bike valet attendants at Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa and at Intercontinental The Clement Monterey.

I am grateful to live in a safe, peaceful community.  This is a community where “take back the night” can, under the right conditions, be a comfortable thing to do–even more so with cops on bikes about!

* * * * *

Californian Highway Patrol

At the 2019 Sea Otter Classic, officers from the local branch of the California Highway Patrol were among law enforcement officers on duty. These CHP officers were welcoming members of Tahitian race team Tamarii Punaruu Cyclisme—Patrice Carpi, Teava Kaimuko, and Kahiri Endeler. Learn more about the team in a video on this site; click here.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel officers pause on Scenic Drive–a route popular with both visitors and locals.

Carmel’s police officers not only bike, they also show they know the value of using bike-and-ride for those occasions when time doesn’t permit you to bike all the way to your destination.

Greenfield

Officers of the Greenfield Police Department are serious about public safety.   And that even includes such things as  teaming up with Bicycling Monterey in helping more South County kids, and adults, learn about bicycle laws and safety.

Below, Greenfield PD officer Armando Mendoza,fitting youth at the first South County Health & Safety Fair, August 15, 2012.

Marina

You’ll often find local PDs hosting or co-hosting bicycle rodeos that help youth learn bike skills. The flier below shows one such example, where Marina PD pitched in.

Another way some local PDs support biking is by seeing that unclaimed recovered stolen bikes get a good second life:  Marina PD is among local PDs that provide bicycles used for bike tech training at the Monterey County Youth Center; see “Getting on the Right Path–a Bike Path…”

Monterey

Monterey PD held a POST certified bicycle class. As the summer approaches, the recreation trail becomes congested with tourists and residents jogging, walking, and riding bicycles. Our officers will be out on the recreation trail ensuring everyone using the trail is safe. pic.twitter.com/j9vR29SA9m

— Monterey Police (@MontereyPolice) April 25, 2019

In addition to the St. Pat’s Day officers on duty, see more photos of City of Monterey police officers on bikes in this post about distracted driving–or biking.

Police work is stressful, and for Chief of Police Dave Hober, biking is one of the things he does to decompress.  There is a special place in the chief’s heart for biking, as it was one of his dad’s favorite activities.

The City of Monterey Police Department clearly recognizes the sensibility of more effectively patrolling the community while also reducing the City’s carbon footprint by using alternative transportation, bicycles.

So does the Salinas Police Department, as I witnessed at Kiddie Capers and Colmo night parade, when some of the officers patrolled and rode the parade route on bikes.

Salinas

the Monterey County seat and its largest city

Perhaps you’ve seen Salinas officers on bicycles at parades and special events.  Did you know that they also do some neighborhood patrols by bike?  In the Hebron Heights neighborhood, Officers Richard Lopez and Raul Rosales love it when their schedule allows them to patrol by bicycle. Officer Lopez grew up building his own bikes from parts he would scavenge on trash days.

In Bicycling Monterey’s Sea Otter Classic 2017 post, you’ll see Raul and a young SPD Explorer (both pictured directly below) helping at SOC. Check out that post to learn more.
Did you know that the Salinas Police Activities League (PAL) has put on bicycle safety rodeos for children and teens?  Officer Lopez and Rosales are among the cops who’ve participated in those.

Salinas PAL has done a rodeo annually at Alisal Healthy Start for many years, and they do rodeos in other parts of the city too. They welcome ways to expand their reach and make their events better. Please contact Salinas PAL to see how you can help!

Also see Salinas Youth and Others for Bikes:  Bikes Make Life Better for a dozen ideas of how you can help Salinas PD and others to support more youth in biking.

Above are Salinas officers above patrolling after the 82nd annual Kiddie Caper parade.

Salinas Police Department is the first PD on the West Coast to have 100% of its PD trained in police legitimacy, and procedural justice, as announced at David Kennedy’s talk at CSUMB on 3/28/14. (Missed it? Listen via KAZU.) Learn more about procedural justice here.

Update: See SPD’s web page on this topic (and there, it states they were first in CA, not on entire West Coast). Still something to be proud of!  http://www.salinaspd.com/content/our-approach-to-policing

Read an excellent report by Julie Reynolds in the 7/5/14 Monterey County Herald, “Cops and community: Police try to reach out with ‘legitimacy’ program.”  (Perhaps you heard a brief KSBW 5/8/14 story that offered its take on that topic. Check out Julie’s story or the links above for a more accurate understanding.  Salinas is one of 10 U.S. cities with a special focus on youth violence prevention.)

Special thanks to Lalo Villegas of Salinas PD for his enthusiastic support for biking.  A veteran of the department, Lalo biked to the City Council meeting with other bike advocates during  Bike Week 2010, and he was instrumental in making this photo available for the Bicycling Monterey website.

 Below: May 2011, Officer Kevin Mead of Salinas PD

Seaside

You may have seen the Seaside police officer pictured below, a biking role model in his community.

Seaside Police Department is a bike-friendly PD too,  and their Police Activities League (PAL) program created a very special PAL Bike Fair in 2011.  This event, coordinated by the department’s Tina Rosa, capped off Bike Week and was also a fun way to help Seaside get ready for the Amgen Tour de California.  Check out that PAL Bike Fair.

Here’s a July 2010 photo of Officer Anthony Snell of the Seaside Police Department.

Soledad

Maybe you know that Soledad Police Department was the first (to my knowledge, and TMK as of 11/26/18, still the only) PD in Monterey County to participate in the nationwide law enforcement agencies’ lip sync challenge. Check it out; click here. Then read on to learn more about Soledad PD.

Did you know Soledad—a gateway to Pinnacles National Park—was recognized in November 2013 as the 11th safest city in California? That’s surely partly due to the work of Soledad police officers in building good relationships with children, teens, and adults of their community.

Here’s one example: Soledad police were leaders in a community effort to get new bicycles for disadvantaged children in time for Christmas, as part of the annual Cops’ Giving Tree launched in 2009. In December 2016, nearly 100 bikes were given; click here for Lauren Seaver’s report on KSBW; and click here for her December 2015 report. In December 2014, 100 bikes were given to children; click here for KION’s report. In December 2013, 75 bikes were gifted to kids; click here for Allison Gatlin’s 12/20/13  story in the Salinas Californian; and for more, see the Soledad Police Department’s thank you 12/20/13 on their Facebook page.

Below, a Soledad officer: “Hey, buddy, pass me out my helmet, will you? Enough patrol car for today.  I wanna pedal!”

Click here for a photo of a City of Soledad’s bike patrol officer, and to learn more about the Soledad bike patrol program. 

Soledad Police, as with some other PDs countywide, like to help with bicycle rodeos too, like this bike rodeo in April 2011.

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office

When about 75,000 people attend Monterey County’s annual four-day Celebration of Cycling, the Sea Otter Classic, you’ll find Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on site, helping to keep the bike scene cool. Below is one such deputy, spotted at the 25th Anniversary Sea Otter Classic.

Thank you to Monterey County cops

for helping to make our county

a more bike-friendly place!