South Baltimore Neighborhoods and Businesses Team Up to Fund Bikes for Auxiliary Police

The Baltimore Police Department Auxiliary Unit, a volunteer organization that assists the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), now has new bikes thanks to South Baltimore. Last year, the Auxiliary Unit began a fundraising effort in hopes of purchasing new bikes for the launch of a bike patrol.

The fundraising efforts were successful as the unit received a $1,000 donation from the Federal Hill Hospitality Association (FHHA), a $333 donation from SouthBMore.com, and $250 donations from the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA), Federal Hill South Neighborhood Association (FHSNA), Key Highway Community Association, Otterbein Community Association, Riverside Neighborhood Association (RNA), and South Baltimore Neighborhood Association (SBNA).

Three new bikes were purchased last month at Race Pace Bicycles in Federal Hill, where the unit received a discount on its purchase, and Federal Hill’s Duo Signage + Graphics supplied signage for the bikes. Extra funding is still available from the effort for future repairs and maintenance of the bikes.

The bike patrol will give the Auxiliary Unit increased accessibility in areas like parks and alleys, as well as during times of traffic congestion. It will also help them combat quality of life issues in South Baltimore and throughout the city.

The Auxiliary Unit noted that though the bikes were funded by the South Baltimore community, they will be used to benefit the entire city. The program launched on Saturday as two officers were on patrol during the Federal Hill Irish Stroll.

The Auxiliary Unit provided more than 2,500 hours of labor to the BPD in 2015.

Auxiliary Sargent John Ebert and Auxiliary Agent Matt Urso

Auxiliary Sargent John Ebert

via http://southbmore.com/2016/03/14/south-baltimore-neighborhoods-and-businesses-team-up-to-fund-bikes-for-auxiliary-police/