Couple donates electric bicycle to police

Sheffield Lake Police Department will have a more environmentally friendly way to engage with the community with a new fully equipped electric bicycle, thanks to a generous donation by Sheffield Lake residents Joe and Rosa Gee.

In a presentation Oct. 6 before Sheffield Lake City Council’s Safety Committee, Joe Gee formally presented e-bike to new Sheffield Lake police Chief Andrew Kory, with the city hoping to expand the new ride into a bicycle unit.

The fully equipped bicycle is produced by Recon Power Bicycles of Fort Wayne, Ind., and can reach a top speed of 30 mph.

The company produces bicycles for law enforcement agencies and military.

Joe Gee said in presenting the bicycle to the police department, that he saw a need and looks forward to seeing it put to use.

The bicycle was delivered the same day with Kory taking the first spin. Council at-Large member Rosa Gee said it was a closely guarded secret for the past six weeks.

Sheffield Lake will join the Avon Police Department as the only police departments in Lorain County to utilize patrol bicycles.

“Thank you for the donation; that’s very generous,” Kory said. “We are greatly appreciative, and it’s going to help with our community relations and community outreach, and just help us get around patrolling.

“Patrolling the bike paths will be a great asset.”

Mayor Dennis Bring added his sincere thanks to the Gees and said the ebike is a new way of patrolling in the community.

The police department will institute training so personnel can learn how to safely operate it, Bring said.

The city hopes to purchase a second bicycle in 2022 to add to the department’s capabilities to engage with the community in a different way, he said.

“It’s just a new way to patrol, you get to see a lot more and this way they can probably pull up to the kids and communicate with them and talk to them and tell them who they are and show them the bike,” Bring said. “I’m sure the kids would be interested in this, too.”

The bikes will act as a way to build positive, friendly relationships with the community so children and the public can see that police officers are good people, he said.

Sheffield Lake City Council will decide on formally accepting the $3,213 donation at its next regular session Oct. 12.

The fully equipped bicycle is produced by Recon Power Bicycles of Fort Wayne, Ind., and can reach a top speed of 30 mph.

KEVIN MARTIN/THE MORNING JOURNAL Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring, center, sits atop a new electric patrol bicycle donated to the Sheffield Lake Police Department on Oct. 6with Chief Andrew Kory, left, and Joe Gee, left.