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Council approves agreement for police e‑bike patrols funded by Foothill Transit
Summary
The council approved an agreement allowing the West Covina Police Department e‑bike unit to operate directed patrols funded by Foothill Transit, with Foothill Transit committing up to $150,000 per fiscal year for overtime patrols.
The City Council voted 4‑0 on March 18 to approve an agreement under which Foothill Transit will fund overtime for the West Covina Police Department’s e‑bike patrol unit to conduct directed patrols along the West Covina Parkway corridor and other high‑use routes.
Chief Tony Cortina described the department’s e‑bike team, formed in August 2024, as a collateral unit trained for proactive community engagement and enforcement where bicycles provide improved access to congested areas, parks and transit stops. Cortina said bike patrols increase positive contacts with the public, can access areas inaccessible to vehicles and make it easier to ride onto buses to engage riders and operators.
Chief Cortina said initial directed patrols funded by Foothill Transit focused on the West Covina Parkway corridor and included numerous positive rider contacts; the chief said officers issued citations and made arrests where criminal activity was observed. He said Foothill Transit agreed to fund overtime for the e‑bike team up to $150,000 per fiscal year.
Councilmembers praised the partnership as a public‑safety initiative that could improve safety along transit corridors and increase rider confidence. Council approved the agreement by motion; the vote was unanimous.
