November 2, 2023

Private First Class Omar Mercedes is a nine-year veteran of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office and is currently assigned to the Applicant Screening and Recruiting Branch. He is also a member of the Sheriff’s Office Bike Patrol Team and holds a Class A certification from the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association (LEBA), meaning he has taken at least 32 hours of mountain bike training on a range of topics including nutrition and hydration, injury and accident prevention, and proper bicycle fit.

In October, Mercedes successfully completed a weeklong LEBA training in Philadelphia and is now certified as a Bike Patrol Instructor, the first in Fairfax County. The certification class covered exercise physiology, bike fit, basic mechanics, police technical skills, firearms, slow speed/high speed drills, first aid, mastering stairs, instructor development, effective cycling, training rides, nutrition, common injuries, stretching, accident prevention, emergency braking, gears and cadence.

“The class stressed teamwork and overcoming obstacles,” explains Mercedes. “It emphasized not just what to teach but how to teach. Every day, we also had to complete a training ride of 25-35 miles and maintain a pace of 14-18 mph.”

According to Mercedes, the LEBA maintains a high training standard for its instructors. Candidates must complete all cone drill techniques to the satisfaction of the instructors and pass a written examination with a passing score of 80% or higher. “Students were assigned a lecture topic and had to submit a lesson plan. We were required to give a 12-minute presentation on the topic.” He admits that the presentation and final exam were the most challenging parts for him.

In addition to the Bike Patrol Team, Mercedes is a member of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team.