EMS Product News March/April 2007
Excerpt from "Smith & Wesson Public Safety Bicycle"
Cpl. Bob Ricciardi, Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, 2006
It's important to understand that the bike shop or the manufacturer - or maybe both - make the product great! It all comes down to service. For most agencies, the most important issue is price. Once you decided how much you have and want to spend, if you compare all the bikes in that price range to one another you will find that marketing gimmicks are all that separate the different bikes. Aesthetics are also important in your decision, so when you first see that bike with the bright yellow paint job and those glossy black decals, that's what gets your attention. What bike did you see in Bicycling magazine, which one did your riding buddies buy? These are all things that affect your decision. Remember to K.I.S.S. it...
So, why am I so hog-wild over Smith & Wesson bicycles? It's simple, really. In the past eight years, we have received stellar service, good products at fair prices, and consistency (i.e., standardization on a manufacturer's level). Many other manufacturers have to deal with public opinion on what is in...what is out ...what is cool...what is not...but a company that only deals with public safety only has to make us happy. Yes, it can be boring, but it is also very effective.
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Best Bikes for the Best Cops
Wilhelm Figueroa, NYPD Photo Unit, July 2003
"The Department purchased the best bikes for the best cops on the job." said Chief of Transportation Michael Scagnelli. Flanked by D.I. John Cassidy, the X.O., TCD (left) and Capt. Mike Pilecki (right), Chief Scagnelli is joined by members of the Manhattan Traffic Task Force at Robert Wagner Park to showcase their new Smith & Wesson bicycles, standard features include 27 speeds and state-of-the-art front suspensions.
Bobbies on bicycles: The quiet crime busters...
The Herald Thursday, August 21, 2003
Picture by Stephen Goodger
POLICE in Worthing will be swapping their usual four wheels for two when some take to the streets on new hi-tech mountain bikes. Officers across the West Downs policing division will be hitting the Tarmac with 17 new bikes, to make police even more visible and accessible to local people.
Worthing's district police commander, Chief Inspector Russ Whitfiedl told the Herald: "I am really pleased we now have bicycles to enable us to deploy officers in a quicker and more friendly fashion.
"Worthing is a busy town, which suffers from traffic flow, and bikes should help us respond to incidents quicker. I can assure the residents of Worthing that they will be fully utilised to help in our continuous strive to provide a better service."
The white Smith and Wesson police mountain bikes were imported from the United States are lightweight and robust. They will be transported in vans, enabling officers to provided high visibility patrols both in town centre and outlying areas.
Chief Superintendent Graham Walter, West Downs divisonal commander said: "The bikes will prove to be a very effective tool in our fight against crime, allowing our officers to patrol hotspots, turn up unexpectedly and silently and catch criminals in the act."