Job Lot donates electric bikes to police in high-tourism, high-traffic areas

Ocean State Job Lot Donates More Than $15,000 of Electric Bicycles to Narragansett Police Department 

OSJL Charitable Foundation Donates Electric Bikes to Police Departments in High-Tourism, High-Traffic Areas of Rhode Island  

Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier privately-held discount retail chain with 146 stores throughout the Northeast, recently donated 12 electric bicycles valued at $1,300 each to the Narragansett Police Department in an effort to increase safety patrols in Narragansett and other popular Rhode Island tourist destinations. Narragansett Police are responsible for overseeing the safety of the town’s 16,000+ residents, and its booming surge of summer visitors. In addition, OSJL recently donated 14 electric bicycles to the New Shoreham Police Department on Block Island, and will donate bikes to the Jamestown Police Department in the coming weeks.  

“The Narragansett Police Department always appreciates Ocean State Job Lot’s continued support of local law enforcement. These bikes are a great community policing tool and will be used by our police officers and community service officers around the Pier area to interact with the public,” said Captain Kyle Rekas, Narragansett Police Department. “They also allow officers to get places that patrol cars can’t and will be very useful at some of our crowded summer events such as the Narragansett Lions Blessing of the Fleet Road Race and the RI Philharmonic Concert on the Beach.”  

The GenZe E222B electric bikes are currently sold through Ocean State Job Lot’s Ship to Store program. They are made in the U.S. and feature an 18” step-thru aluminum frame, 350-watt rear hub motor with pedal assist, 90mm drum brakes, a Shimano 8-speed derailer and microshift thumb shifter. The commercial-grade electric bikes were delivered fully assembled, tested and with a 42-volt charger.  

“Ocean State Job Lot is deeply committed to assisting our local communities in a variety of ways,” said David Sarlitto, Executive Director, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “We appreciate our first responders and hope the electric bicycles will assist in their community safety programs and will also cut down on the number of vehicles on the roadways in these busy summer tourism destinations.” 

Photo Caption*: 

(Left to Right): Narragansett Police Department Patrolman Kyle Rooney, Community Service Officers Kyle Sanderson and Michael Deprete, and Patrolman Paul Boisclair pictured with some of the GenZe bikes.  

*Photo courtesy of Narragansett Police Department. 

About Ocean State Job Lot: 

Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 146 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, approximately 5,600 employees, and annual sales exceeding $800 million. Job Lot sells brand name, first quality merchandise at closeout prices. Shoppers find an ever-changing array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The company was named a “Best Midsize Employer” by Forbes Magazine and a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte. 

The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts and promoting learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it distributed $15 million in PPE to school systems, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and police and fire departments across New England and the Northeast. Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered at 375 Commerce Park Road in the Quonset Point Business Park, North Kingstown, RI 02852.  Phone: (401) 295-2672; Web: OceanStateJobLot.com.