Guantanamo Bay's Security Department Certifies Bicycle Patrolmen

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Justin Ailes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- A Miami Dade County Police Department cycling instructor visited Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to provide training to Security department personnel, June 11-22.

 Thamy Gonzalez provided the two-week International Police Mountain Bike Association cycling certification course to qualify base security personnel as bicycle patrolmen.

 "The course trains participants on patrol procedures, night riding, and basic cycling skills," said Gonzalez. "Once certified, bicycle patrolmen bring a unique perspective towards community policing."

The 40-hour courses featured 12 hours of classroom training before engaging students in hands-on cycling instruction, necessary for base patrol.

 "NS Guantanamo Bay's Security department can now utilize the bike patrol as an added resource," said Gonzalez. "Bike patrol allows Security to interact with the public in ways that haven't been available before. It's another way of policing. It's a tool that the Master at Arms will have in their pocket to combat crime and it provides positive interaction with base residents, while benefiting the environment."

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For more news from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, visit www.navy.mil/local/guantanamo/.