By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

Thanks to an ATV training program, police officers from Pembroke, Allenstown and Bow will be able to take law enforcement off-road.

Pembroke police Lt. Scott Lane spent the afternoon of Friday, July 22, teaching nine officers all-terrain vehicle safety.

"Each rider needs four hours of training to get certified," Lane said. "Our goal is to get all of the patrol officers trained."

Each of the departments has two ATVs, and Bow made the latest purchase.

"The Pembroke ATVs are about $6,000 a unit," said Lane.

The four-wheeled vehicles have many advantages, said Lane.

"All of these towns have a ton of remote areas," he said. "The ATVs mean that patrols have increased mobility and effectiveness. There's been a lot of illegal dumping, trespassing and alcohol parties."

Pembroke currently patrols three times a month, but Lane said the goal is to make one patrol a week.

"We've been averaging two summons a patrol since we started in March," he said. "Each patrol consists of two officers riding for six hours, and they cover about 40 miles per patrol."

Bow Patrol Officer Jacqueline Prunea found herself on an ATV for the first time during training, which is being held at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown.

"The first thing that was going through my head was 'fun,'" she said. "The training has been fairly easy, and we have a great instructor."

Upon completion of her training, Prunea looks forward to patrolling on an ATV.

"When you come up to someone in the woods, they actually stop," she said. "It's amazing, they don't try to run."

Lane said police mounted on ATVs are specifically encouraged not to chase suspects.

"There's a difference between knowing how to ride and knowing the trail geography. It's dangerous enough to ride ATVs," he said. "We'll give a suspect a summons, but we aren't going to chase them down." He said a no-pursuit policy is for everyone's safety.

"People are usually so surprised that they just have this trout look on their face," he said.

Patrol Officer John MacLennan from Bow said the major problem is trespassing, but vandalism is also an issue police need to address.

"During the non-winter season, it's illegal to ride ATVs in Bow," he said. "Some people have been trespassing on PSNH property and shooting out the insulators on power lines."

If you're riding an ATV anywhere, you have to carry written permission from the property owner, said Prunea.

Allenstown Patrol Officer Rebecca Dunsmore, who joined the department two months ago, was another first-time rider who showed up for training.

"I love Allenstown and it's a great place to work," she said. "I'm planning to patrol as soon as I can. Patrols are on a first come, first serve basis."

Dunsmore said Allenstown patrols last four hours and are performed by teams of two.

"We set up near heavily traveled areas," said Scott. "We help Fish and Game patrol during the hunting season and check hunting and fishing permits."

Lane said Fish and Game Department has 45 officers in the state, and police often aid them in enforcing regulations.

"On the weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we see the most illegal activity," he said. "We're hoping to get out there and make a difference."