Police departments are increasingly adding electric bicycles to their patrol fleets, and federal money is sometimes footing the bill. The latest example is in Clinton, where the local Police Department and County Sheriff's Office received five all-terrain e-bikes from Recon Power Bikes. Three went to the Police Department, including one for its mental health co-responder, and two went to the Sheriff's Office.
The bikes and associated equipment were fully paid for through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, a major federal source of criminal justice funding for state and local governments. The e-bikes have already been on duty for a couple of weeks, according to Electrek. With speeds up to 20 mph and a claimed range of 50 miles, they let officers reach trails, parks, and other spots where patrol cars are impractical.
Electrek notes that e-bikes are comparatively cheap to buy and run, need no gasoline, and make officers more approachable than they would be inside a cruiser. The report frames the Clinton purchase as part of a broader trend of police e-bike adoption, while acknowledging that e-bikes are not replacing patrol cars anytime soon—they are filling the gap between foot patrols and full-sized vehicles.