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TODAY GOVERNOR, PHIL SCOTT WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS STATEWIDE… ONE DAY BEFORE WE MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CATASTROPHIC EVENT. NBC5’S ANNA GUBER JOINS US IN STUDIO NOW. ANNA, MONTPELIER WAS ESPECIALLY HIT HARD. IT’S EVEN TAKEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ONE YEAR TO GET ONE OF ITS PROGRAMS UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. THE MONTPELIER POLICE DEPARTMENT’S BIKE PATROL. HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. BUT AFTER THE FLOODS WASHED OUT THE BASEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT LAST SUMMER… THEY LOST THE BIKES THEY USED FOR THIS PROGRAM. NOW…THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH ONION RIVER OUTDOORS. THE MONTPELIER BIKE PATROL IS BACK. SERGEANT, MICHAEL PHILBROOK SAYS… IT’S BEEN AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR OFFICERS TO GET AROUND. SOMETIMES AN EVEN áFASTER WAY TO RESPOND TO CALLS DOWNTOWN… THAN IN A PATROL CAR. HE SAYS IT’S ALSO A WAY FOR OFFICERS TO BETTER CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY. AT BIG EVENTS LIKE DO GOOD FEST WHICH IS HAPPENING NEXT WEEK. <MICHAEL PHILBROOK, MONTPELIER POLICE DEPARTMENT, :15 “IT’S VERY OPEN AND APPROACHABLE, YOU KNOW, BEING INSTEAD OF BEING BEHIND THE STEEL AND GLASS OF A POLICE CAR, YOU KNOW, WE’RE OUT THERE IN SHORTS AND A POLO SHIRT AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE SIDEWALK ABD OUT AND ABOUT AND AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY TO INTERACT WITH.”> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW… IS THAT OFFICERS HAVE TO CARRY THEIR POLICE GEAR ON THE BIKES. SERGEANT PHILBROOK HOPES THEY’LL BE ABLE TO GET FUNDING TO ADD E-BIKES TO THE FLEET. AFTER A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY… PHILBROOK SAYS… THEIR THANKFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE… HELPING EACH OTHER GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. EVEN A YEAR LATER. IN THE MEANTIME, T

Montpelier Police Department brings back bike patrol

After historic floods ripped through Vermont’s capitol city last July, it forced the Montpelier Police Department to shut down a beloved public safety program: bike patrol. But, now one year after the floods, Sergeant Michael Philbrook said the program has finally come back. Philbrook said the floods washed through the department’s basement where many of the bikes used for the program were kept. However, between a partnership with Onion River Outdoors and funding from next year’s budget, Philbrook said the department has been able to rebuild its fleet. Philbrook added that the bikes are an effective and sometimes fast way for officers to respond to calls downtown. But even more, he said the program is a chance for officers to better connect with the community.“It’s very open and approachable, you know, instead of being behind the steel and glass of a police car, you know, we’re out there in shorts and a polo shirt and, you know, on the sidewalk and out and about and available to the community to interact with,” he said. Philbrook said the department hopes to continue to connect with their community, and anyone interested should be on the lookout for more “Coffee with a Cop” dates coming up in August.

MONTPELIER, Vt. —

After historic floods ripped through Vermont’s capitol city last July, it forced the Montpelier Police Department to shut down a beloved public safety program: bike patrol.

But, now one year after the floods, Sergeant Michael Philbrook said the program has finally come back.

Philbrook said the floods washed through the department’s basement where many of the bikes used for the program were kept. However, between a partnership with Onion River Outdoors and funding from next year’s budget, Philbrook said the department has been able to rebuild its fleet.

Philbrook added that the bikes are an effective and sometimes fast way for officers to respond to calls downtown. But even more, he said the program is a chance for officers to better connect with the community.

“It’s very open and approachable, you know, instead of being behind the steel and glass of a police car, you know, we’re out there in shorts and a polo shirt and, you know, on the sidewalk and out and about and available to the community to interact with,” he said.

Philbrook said the department hopes to continue to connect with their community, and anyone interested should be on the lookout for more “Coffee with a Cop” dates coming up in August.