Pembroke Park police report rising e‑bike thefts, proposes e‑bike registration program

Pembroke Park Police Chief Daniel DeCourcey reported to the commission on Jan. 29 that officers handled 1,164 calls for service from Dec. 30 through Jan. 27 and that the department is tracking a rise in e‑bike thefts, particularly in mobile home communities.

Chief DeCourcey told commissioners that officers made seven arrests during the reporting period and that calls included 57 crashes, 31 alarms and six burglaries. He said the department recorded 95 cyber reports required by the state and that the department handled 636 police contacts (citizen service calls).

To address e‑bike thefts, DeCourcey said the department distributed crime‑prevention flyers and will place a decoy car in affected neighborhoods. He reported the deputy chief had met a vendor to develop an online property‑registration program for e‑bikes so owners could register serial numbers and receive stickers; officers would be able to compare a bike’s serial number against the registry when investigating thefts.

DeCourcey said the department has a license‑plate reader that is not yet fully connected to a real‑time crime center and that the department continues work on accreditation and policy updates. He said the department has issued 65 policies through PowerDMS and hopes to reengage the Florida Police Accreditation Coalition to restart the accreditation clock. He also announced the hiring of a part‑time officer, Jose Sanchez, who previously served with Miramar and is assisting with investigations and backgrounds.

Commissioners praised the e‑bike registration idea and noted the use of directed patrols and property‑sticker programs as part of a prevention strategy. No formal vote or adoption of a registration ordinance was recorded in the meeting; the measures described were presented as department initiatives and in‑progress plans.