The Mountain Bike Unit (MTB Unit) came into existence on October 1, 2002. It is comprised of six patrol officers and is led by Sergeant Mike Troendle. The unit is part of the Special Enforcement Bureau which is commanded by Captain Leo Eggert. The hours of operation are during the evening and early morning, twelve months a year.
The MTB Unit does proactive work in areas known to have problems with drug sales and gang activity. They also patrol
student-housing areas around the University of Toledo. The areas checked are guided by the officers’ personal knowledge, citizens’ complaints, crime statistics, and information received from district units. The Unit also receives information from the Gang and Vice/Narcotics Units.
The MTB Unit members are assigned as a team that includes all of the officers working that day. Two of the officers are assigned to a prisoner transport vehicle. The transport vehicle is a regular patrol wagon that has had a removable bike rack mounted to the front bumper. The officers take the wagon to a location that is near the targeted area. The remainder of the unit meets at the wagon and then they all ride into the area on bikes. During inclement weather, the officers are assigned to marked cruisers.
Due to the Unit’s ability to make a stealthy approach, numerous suspects have been taken into custody and thousands of dollars worth of narcotics have been confiscated.