Mounted police teach bike safety

CADILLAC - Cadillac area students are learning bike safety with the help of some equine teachers.

The Cadillac Police Department Auxiliary Horse Patrol conducted bicycle safety classes in Mckinley, Lincoln and Franklin schools last week. Kenwood, Forest View and St. Ann schools will have the classes Thursday and Friday.

Karen Gregg, school liaison officer, said classes teach riding safety for a horse and bicycles.

"Basically, we introduced the mounted police to the schools last year," Gregg said. "It's educational but it's also fun for the kids."

Mounted police have been with Cadillac Police Department for the past five years.

Officers Gwen Johnson, Jim Ray and horses Chief and Bunny are committed to teaching the fourth grade students the importance of wearing helmets.

"We will dwell on using helmets," Ray said. "We issue tickets if we see kids biking, rollerblading or skateboarding."

"The tickets are for ice cream at Dairy Queen," he said.

Students learn safety tips for things such as rules of the road, what to do at an intersection, getting bikes ready for the spring and seat adjustment.

Bike safety is not the only purpose for the patrol to have these classes at the various elementaries. It also is another tool to show children police officers are there to help them. Both Johnson and Ray are certified in first-aid training.

"Whether they fall off their skateboard and need first-aid or if they are lost, the police are there to help them," Gregg said. "Mounted police are at all the various events downtown and around the parks. This shows them in a different capacity, it shows them as a friend to the students."

Gregg has served as the Youth Services Officer since December of 1995.  The program places an officer in the Cadillac Area Public Schools on a full time basis.

This officer serves a population of approximately 3,980 students in eight area schools. The YSO has the three primary responsibilities of education, investigation, and intervention.