In May 1992, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department instituted the first Police Mountain Bike Patrol in Sussex County. Utilizing "TREK" police-package mountain bikes, the bike patrol, known as the Bicycle Enforcement Unit (BEU), was manned by four (4) seasonal patrolmen and two full-time police officers throughout the summer. Working rotating shifts 24 hours a day, the bike patrol has proven itself over the past eight summers to be an extremely effective law enforcement and community relations tool during the summer months when increased vehicular traffic causes gridlock on our main arteries. Moreover, we are especially proud of the fact that in August 1994, the BEU was recognized by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety as the Region III winner in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 1994 "Program of Excellence."

This patrol unit is now manned by eight (8) seasonal police officers, with two (2) assigned to each of the four (4) patrol shifts and work rotating shifts along with their full-time assigned shift. Trained full-time police officers ride when manpower is sufficient for shift coverage.

Seasonal police officers interested in being assigned to the BEU must first pass a physical agility test consisting of a flexibility exercise, maximum number of push-ups and sit-ups completed in one minute for each, and a timed 1.5 mile run conducted by the coordinator of the BEU. The tryouts are held immediately following the first weekend of orientation/training.  Those who qualify for the BEU positions will be required to attend an additional three days of training at a later date.  

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 Last Revised: November 10, 2006