A First for the Pacific-Samoa Police Invest in Recon E-Bikes

Savali by Jasmine Netzler-lose

Samoa’s Police Services is the first in the Pacific to invest in electrical bicycles for their Patrol Unit, thanks to the Australian Government and their Federal Police through the Samoa Australia Partnership. The 8 new electric bikes were handed over during the closing of the Bicycle Patrol Officer Program training at the Samoa Police Prisons and Correction Services training unit at Matautu on Wednesday afternoon. Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans, the Senior Responsible Officer of the Samoa Australia Police Partnership in his remarks acknowledged that this is the first time that Samoa has been presented with e-bicycles. And complimented the Samoa Police landmark achievement as the first in the region to invest in this new technology. He noted that extensive research was carried out all over the world to ensure that the suitable bicycles were purchased for use for the Samoa Police. “The A.F.P. and the Australian Government recognize that climate change affects the Pacific more than any other area on earth and we’ve seen the UN development project partner with E.P.C. to explore using electric vehicles and vessels to transform transportation in Samoa.” As a result said Detective Superintendent Evans, “We want to join that cause and work with the Samoa Police.” “And these e-bikes are the first step, and we hope they provide an avenue to patrol villages where there aren’t roads, villages that are too far to walk and, to enhance the ability to engage with community in Samoa.” Law Enforcement Instructor of RECON POWER BIKES a company based in Indiana in the United States, Caeser De Jesus will deliver the training over two days to ensure that the officers fully understand how to handle these bikes. Samoa’s Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said this is the first time in the history of the Samoa Police that e-bikes will now be used in the work of the ministry. Acknowledging that the names of those who have graduated from the training will be recorded by the Samoa Police as the first ever that will use these bicycles. He said the main idea is to strengthen the visibility of the Samoa Police not only in Apia but also in the rural communities so that there is more engagement with the community. As a result the next plans will include distributing the bikes to rural out posts of the Samoa Police to ensure this happens.

According to Auapaau this is also part of the Samoa Police’s preparations leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted in Samoa next year. The commissioner strongly urged all those that will be using the bicycles to take good care
of them and to ensure their maintenance when required especially since the cost of these transport vessels are very expensive. Auapaau extended his thanks to the Australian Federal Police, the Government of Australia and to Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans of the Samoa Australia Police Partnership for the continuous support for the development of the Samoa Police Services and Samoa.