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Desert Lightning News May 6, 2016 5
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Security Forces on two wheels
Airman 1st Class Mya M. Crosby ing to be able to maneuver throughout the in-
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs stallation and safely pursue a situation if needed.
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Lyn was trained by the Tucson Police Depart-
Ariz. -- The patrolmen, dressed in navy cargo
shorts and blue polo shirts with “Police” printed ment and participated in a five-day course. He
on the back, slow their bikes down as they ar-
rive in front of the crowded entrance of the Ex- learned how to ride up and down stairs, how to
change. They secure their bikes and remove their
helmets as they prepare to patrol the area when do slow rides to maneuver through crowds and
they’re stopped twice by pedestrians before they
make it inside of the building. how to tread walk to keep the bicycle still while
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Damien Lyn and keeping his balance.
Johnny Nunnes, 355th Security Forces Squadron
base defense operations center controllers, are “We were trained to know what to do to pur- (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mya M. Crosby)
responsible for the 355th SFS bicycle patrol fleet.
sue someone from bike or on foot and not get U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Johnny Nunnes and Damien Lyn, 355th
“So far it’s been an absolutely great reaction (ourselves) hurt,” said Lyn.
from the public,” said Nunnes. “Most people are Security Force Squadron base defense operations center control-
just curious as to the uniform so that initiates
most of our conversations.” Nunnes trained with the International Po- lers, patrol the entrance of the Exchange at Davis-Monthan Air
The bicycle patrol fleet, a small group of three lice Mountain Bike Association and partici- Force Base, Ariz., March 30, 2016. Traveling on bicycle helps the
personnel, is a section within the squadron that defenders with faster response times by allowing them to travel
allows the “defenders” not only more access to pated in a rigorous course. For the graduation through places that a patrol car cannot.
the base but more interaction with the D-M
AFB community. The fleet is expected to grow ride, Nunnes participated in a 50-mile course,
in the future.
down and back, while having to complete ad- “After arming up, we check to see if our tires
The patrolmen went through a variety of train-
ditional tasks. The training was based on riding are flat from the goat heads from this lovely desert
through large groups of people, chasing down and we find our way to where there’s high popu-
suspects if needed, dismounting the bike on a lation: the BX, the commissary, and once school
high-speed pursuit and then being able to draw lets out, we’ll start hitting up the playgrounds
a weapon safely. and (base) housing,” said Nunnes. “Anywhere
Rather than spending their shift inside of a pa- that people can see us and they have concerns
trol car, an office or at the front gate, the patrol- and can get our attention or to just maintain the
men spend their shift riding through their des- public peace. To all the base community popu-
ignated areas and they also stop to interact with lous, feel free to come ask us questions. We’re
the base community members. here for you.”
