Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: April 20, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bicycle giveaway

Shreveport Police will conduct two bicycle safety courses to middle school students this afternoon and assist in the giveaway of 122 bicycles.

Officers will teach children how to be safe on their bicycles, as well as overall traffic safety. The "Youth Organized" program will then donate the bikes, which will be given to 122 Bethune Middle School students. "Youth Organized" is a monitoring program founded by citizen Tabatha Taylor to build youth through self-esteem and self-awareness classes.

The bikes were made possible by a grant through the city office of Community Development.

The bike safety classes will take place at 2 p.m. today at Bethune Middle School, 4331 Henry Street, and again at 3 p.m. at Bethune 6th Grade Middle Academy, 1730 Laurel.

SPD Community Liaison Officers Van Wray and Mary Coburn, and SPD Neighborhood Assistance Team Member Bobby Henderson will teach the classes.

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View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews