Mercedes-Benz Supports Community Policing

 Mercedes-Benz Donates 50 Mountain Bikes to the Chicago Police Department In
        Support of a $2 Million Grassroots Law Enforcement Initiative

    CHICAGO, May 18 Mercedes-Benz USA will announce -- on
Friday morning May 18 as part of a kick-off event celebrating Mayor Daley's
Bike Month -- the donation of 50 specially modified, all-terrain mountain
bikes, worth $100,000 which will be presented to the City of Chicago's Police
Department.  Expected to be present at the Daley Plaza celebration to accept
the gift is Mayor Richard Daley and Deputy Chief of Police Frank Radke, head
of the departments special functions group, which oversees the bike patrol
unit.
    As part of a larger grass roots initiative, the company will donate 1,000
Mercedes Benz mountain bikes to law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S.
The super-sophisticated, high-performance "zero-emission" means of
transportation has been specially modified for police use.
    "It is our hope the Chicago Police officers in the unit will truly enjoy
our great bike," said Joe Messner, general manager of the Mercedes-Benz USA
Chicago region.  "Our goal through our donation is to improve our
quality-of-life, help reduce crime and thus make the streets of Chicago
cleaner and safer for everyone, while helping to reduce the force's budget."
    Mountain bikes have become chosen modes of transportation by many urban
and suburban police forces.  Community policing traces its roots to
neighborhood police officers that walked a beat and knew, and were known by,
local residents and merchants.  For many police departments, bike officers are
far more versatile and effective than foot patrols in a variety of
environments. It has also been proven to be one of the most effective methods
of reducing crime in both urban and suburban environments.  The expansion of
bike patrols and community policing activities is designed to provide improved
quality-of-life, safer streets, reduced crime, increased real estate values
and business growth.
    "These bikes are state-of-the-art equipment and will go a long way in
helping our bike patrol officers be more effective on the street," said Chief
Radke.  "We are grateful for the support and generosity Mercedes-Benz has
shown with this gift."
    There are approximately 1,400 active bike patrol units in operation within
local, city, state and federal law enforcement agencies across the country,
according to the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA).
"Bike officers can travel faster and farther than foot officers and they are
able to patrol areas unreachable by car.  They also have a stealth advantage,"
said Maureen Becker, executive director of IPMBA.
    The Mercedes-Benz all-terrain mountain bike features a super-lightweight
Alcoa all-aluminum frame, hydraulic rear shock absorber, front and rear disc
brakes, and Shimano Nexave drivetrain with 24-speed gearing.  Police duty
models are fitted with a specific rear sub-frame with a welded rack pack plus
minor surface finish changes.  Mercedes-Benz precision-engineered bicycles are
hand-made in the USA by AMP Research in Laguna Hills, California.

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