http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqrREJpIQhY&feature=youtu.be
Monday through Friday Dennis Petsche works on bikes. His workshop is not at a bike shop or home business, but at the Southern New Mexico State Correctional Facility where Petsche has been an inmate for over twenty years.
The New Mexico Corrections Department recently started a bike restoration program where inmates work to restore bikes, and then give to those who may be in need in around the state. Petsche says he does enjoy working to give back to the community, but it also provides him the chance to stay busy.
“It gets me out and it keeps me motivated, instead of sitting around in there just moping,” says Petsche.
Sgt. Chris Barela with the New Mexico Corrections Department helped start the program at the facility. He shares what type of work gets done here.
“The inmates get a hold of the bike, strip it down and get what working parts they can get and make once functioning bike,” says Barela.
Inmate Luis Rios says that he did not even work on his own bike when he was a kid, so this has been a learning experience.
“So, just not knowing how the stuff goes. Learning on the way as it goes, that’s how we are learning,” says Rios.
Joe Castañeda, vocational instructor for the program has been working with the inmates on learning how to restore the bikes, some of which can be old or damaged.
“My main role here is to straighten the rims to the best of my abilities. We get some of them that are pretty bent and beat-up, but if these guys have any questions I try to answer them to the best of my abilities,” says Castañeda.
Besides, learning Luis Rios shares his favorite part of the restoration process.
“We get to ride them, testing them...Makes you feel free.”
Using their abilities to help out those in need is one of the joys that inmate Daniel Mares gets out of it.
“Giving back to the community…I spent most of my life robbing the community, so it kind of feels good,” says Mares.
The bike donations are accepted at the Adult Probation and Parole Office and Ride On Sports, both in Las Cruces.
David Hill with Ride on Sports says they have already received donations.
“They’re dropping of all kinds of bikes. Kids bikes, older bikes. We have had some students who are graduating and moving, and they come drop the bikes off. I guess they’re done with them. Most of them are in pretty decent shape and they will work out well for the prison,” says Hill.
Inmate Dennis Petsche says it is important to let people know that inmates can help the community.
“I’m no different then the day I walked in the door. I’ve learned a lot, and I want them to see that we do things and, and not just mope around and get into trouble in prison,” says Petsche.
The inmates who are working on the bikes say that with more donations and bike tools they can restore more bikes for those in need across the state.