Police duke it out in Duel in the Sun regional competition
by Paul Matson, sports editor

    Picture a rodeo on bicycles and that describes Duel in the Sun, a regional competition between bicycle police and security officers from around the region.

    The Fort Worth Police Bike Patrol Citizens Support Group, a non-profit organization, hosted the third annual rodeo-style competition earlier this month.

    The event includes an obstacle course, mechanic challenge, track-stand (remaining stationary on a bike), a practical obstacle course and a 30-minute race.

    The Fort Worth Police Department funds training and a mechanics’ school for downtown bicycle police officers, but out-lying, sub-stations and storefront locations must find outside funding for these programs.

    Training and bike equipment for these locations are either funded by corporate donations or by the Citizens Support Group.

    “Our purpose in life is to support the police officers’ bike patrol,” Glen Hahn, association president, said.

    “This is a true policing event, showing the capabilities of each officer,” he said.

    The practical obstacle course includes a four-foot wall, which the officer with bicycle must scale (either throwing the bicycle over the wall or having it handed over by a fellow team-mate), a car search for certain contraband (knives, guns, drugs, hand grenades, etc.), a marksmanship challenge and a three-story climb of stairs to rescue a baby (mannequin).

    The obstacle course consists of tight circles and turns, a small jump, a narrow bridge crossing and stair climbing, all done on a bicycle.

    Organizers expect the rodeo to become a statewide event soon.

    The event was remodeled this year to resemble a more practical day-to-day, law enforcement situation

    Duel in the Sun, raises $20,000-$25,000 a year for the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association’s training and equipment.

    “The event is held for fun,” Lt. Billy Cordell, head of the bicycle patrol, said.

    Events are held for individuals and/or teams of three.

Fort Worth has 78 trained bicycle officers, but not all currently ride a beat.

    The association holds two bicycle training sessions per year and hopes to add an advanced training course soon.

    This year’s grand champion was last year’s winning team, the Night Riders from the Fort Worth Police Department.

    The team consists of officers Carlos Duque, C. Shedlock and Brian Russell.

    As a team, the Night Riders won third place for the 30-minute road-course race and second place for the practical obstacle course race.

    Officer Russell rode away with the most trophies in the event.

    Besides the trophies won as a team member, he took third place in the track-stand and first place in the skills obstacle course.

    The City Center Security team (CCS) came in second place over-all, and Carrisa Lyons took first place in the mechanical competition for CCS.