The Bicycle Patrol Unit is a sub section of the Operations Division. The Voorhees Township bicycle patrol unit began patrolling on July 4, 1994.  The department’s decision to implement the specialized unit was due to an increase in calls.  At the same time, a grant became available through the State of New Jersey known as the Safe and Secure Communities Program.  The department identified specific areas within the township that needed supplemental patrolling.  Under the guidelines of the program, “targeted” areas where chosen for the specialized unit.  The Bicycle Unit also met a special necessity for community policing and the crime prevention program.  The officers assigned to this unit received specialized training such as Professional Conduct training, Cultural and Sensitivity training and Bias Incident Response training.  Some officers attended a special school that was sponsored by the Philadelphia Police Department while others attended another school sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania and the International Police Mountain Bike Association.  The bike officers currently work with the Voorhees Township DARE and Crime Prevention Unit.  They perform special presentations at all Voorhees Township schools.  They also lecture youth and scout groups within the township.  They focus there lectures on bicycle safety and the importance of wearing bicycle helmets.    

Patrolling with a bicycle has many advantages over a patrol car.  An officer on a bike tends to be more versatile since they can patrol in areas that a patrol vehicle normally cannot travel.  The public seem to be receptive toward officers on a bike, thus giving the officers the ability to interact with the public more frequently.  The bike officer has a key advantage known as “stealth patrolling”.  They can ride quietly and virtually go undetected.  Another advantage is that the public has the ability to interact with a bicycle officer much easier than they would with an officer in a patrol vehicle.  In the past, the officers of the bicycle unit have made various apprehensions and have prevented crimes that normally would have occurred.  Drunk drivers, drug offenders and individuals who have attempted to vandalize public and private properties have all been prosecuted thanks to the efforts of the Bicycle Patrol Unit.  If anyone is interested in finding out more about the Voorhees Township Bicycle Patrol Unit, please contact the department at (856) 428-5400 or simply flag down a bike officer while he or she is on patrol.

The Voorhees Twp. Police Department has always been a leader in the law enforcement community when it comes to a Police Canine Unit. The Voorhees Twp. Police Canine Unit has been in affect since the mid 1960's and started under Chief Walter White with two patrol dog teams.  The first two dog handlers were Earl Odd Sr. (retired Chief of Police) and Bob Hanacek Sr. (retired Deputy Chief of Police).  A short time later, Jack Prettyman (retired Deputy Chief of Police) was assigned to the canine unit when an opening became available.   A training Facility was constructed behind Police Headquarters where the officers and their partners honed their skills for patrol work.  Voorhees Twp. Police even hosted the first East Coast Police Dog Trial for the United States Canine Association.  Here is where the history of the Voorhees Twp. Police Canine unit started.

The current canine unit, under the direction of Chief Keith F. Hummel, is larger and more diverse then it has ever been.  The unit consists of two dog teams trained in patrol work.  Chief Hummel has shown great support for the canine unit by making training a priority and selecting the very best schools available. 

These groups of officers and their K-9 partners have been responsible for the seizure of pounds and pounds of illegal narcotics and the capture of many suspects in the commission of crimes.  They have served police departments in the entire Camden County area and surrounding counties.  They have competed in several Regional and National Field Trials sponsored by the United States Police Canine Association (U.S.P.C.A.) and have been awarded top honors for their achievements. 

The Voorhees Twp. Police Department was the proud host of the U.S.P.C.A. Region #15, Police Dog I Trial in the spring of 1999.  This regional competition attracted close to (50) canine patrol teams from five (5) different states.  This weekend event is just one example of the hard work and dedication that is commonplace for the members of the current canine unit.

Since the mid 1960's, Voorhees Twp. Police Department has maintained their commitment to its canine unit.  There has only been five (5) years out of thirty-five (35) that this department has not had a canine team available to assist the police officers and the residents of Voorhees Twp.  The canine unit has seen nine (9) different canine teams in its history and will continue to serve the officers and residents of Voorhees Twp. with great pride and tenacity.