Zelie Police Department Rolls out new Recon E-Bike Program
The Butler Eagle
New police e-bikes greeted visitors to the Zelienople Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12.
“They look fantastic, even better than I was anticipating,” borough council member Spencer Mathew said. “This will be a
great asset to help keep the town safer.”
Zelienople Police Department plans to use the e-bikes for in-town patrolling, especially during parades, open-air
markets and other events, according to Zelienople police Chief Jim Miller.
This isn’t your typical bike, however. These 98-pound units can travel up to 28 mph with a 50-mile range, Miller said.
They feature headlights, red-and-blue emergency lights, a siren, gear bags and first aid equipment to speed response
times.
“I love the lights. They’re really pretty,” Rory said, sizing up patrolman Logan Brink’s e-bike as he demonstrated the lights
and siren.
Her brother considered the power of the bike.
“It’s bigger than my bike,” Alec observed, but with some training, he said, he possibly could go as fast.
The bikes were generic models when they arrived, Miller said, but Ray Roccon of Rocconic in Zelienople quickly
provided tailored vehicle design and the police department logo.
Miller first considered e-bikes after seeing law-enforcement-grade models at a conference of the International
Association of Chiefs of Police, where new equipment and technology — even large items such as helicopters — are
exhibited.
After he expressed an interest in e-bikes, Miller said, the community stepped up.
“The entire project is funded by donations, more than $17,000,” Miller said, crediting the Hungarian Beneficial Society,
Rotary Club of Zelienople, Zelienople Area Business Association and Randy Hart, a lifelong Zelienople resident. The
funds covered the bikes, helmets and high-visibility uniforms.