Thanks to donations from a local bike shop and a resident, Saratoga Springs has a new police bike patrol.

In July, Saratoga Springs police Corporal Bruce Champagne was looking for a bike that the department could use for bike safety fairs. Unfortunately, the best bike for the job was out of the department's price range. That's when the owner of Epic Biking in Saratoga Springs, Dan Burton, offered to sell the bike to the department at cost.

Then a few weeks later, Saratoga Springs resident Gail Kelsey called the department about starting bike patrols on the city's trails. But because the department only had one bike, that was impossible.

"You really need two officers for patrols," said Police Chief Gary Hicken.

When he was told about the situation with the single bike, Kelsey decided to make a donation of $500 to the department to purchase another one.

Kelsey said that when he asked the officers why they were patrolling in cruisers instead of on bikes and was told they didn't have any, he felt he had to do something.

"I admire citizens that can give time," Kelsey said. "Unfortunately, what I can give is only a little support monetarily."

When Kelsey offered the $500 donation, officers called Burton. "Without any reservations he offered an identical bike at cost, forgoing any profit," Hicken said.

"With two bikes, officers can ride in pairs, increasing officer safety and community security," Hicken said.

Now officers patrol the trails in the city on their new bikes.

Hicken said that most trail-related complaints come in regards to visitors to the area who use the paths around Utah Lake. "For example, we have people drinking, throwing trash around, and even jumping into the river naked during the day, skinny dipping," he said. "Residents don't want to see that.

"Sometimes we get hunters too close to homes, as well. The Bike Patrol will help us address those."

Hicken said that just the presence of the officers will help to deter unwanted behavior, but that the officers will be equipped to write citations and even make arrests if necessary.

In appreciation for their efforts, both Burton and Kelsey were given citizen commendations by the police department at the Sept. 2 City Council meeting.