The Illinois State Police is rolling out its new Bicycle Response Team at the Illinois State Fair, marking one of the team’s first major deployments.
The unit was created to give troopers greater mobility at large events where crowds can make traditional patrol vehicles less effective. Bicycle officers can move quickly through fairs, festivals and parades while assisting with crowd management and interacting with the public.
At this year’s Illinois State Fair, ISP has deployed 11 Bicycle Response Team officers in addition to troopers already conducting foot patrols throughout the fairgrounds.
Members of the team are troopers from around Illinois who continue their regular patrol assignments but can be deployed on bicycles when needed. Officers must complete specialized physical training, with some also receiving additional crowd management training.
ISP plans to eventually have approximately 100 trained bicycle officers participating in the volunteer program.
State Police officials say the bicycle unit will provide a highly visible presence while allowing troopers to reach incidents more quickly in crowded areas.