Posted: 8/22/2008 6:02:43 PM EDT
|
My Chief wants motors. I want motors. I rode a Road King Police at my last department, and I know that we could be effective on them here. The Chief knows it, too. Getting money for new equipment is no problem, we pretty much get what we want as long as the Chief can convince the County Commission we need it, but here is where the problem is; our commissioners only remember that about twenty years ago a city officer was killed on a motorcycle. The county police dept. has never had motors, and the LODD of the city officer twenty years ago is their only experience with them. Anyone know where I can get reliable numbers and related data for motor officers killed/injured on duty, and any other information that might be useful in helping convince a bunch of old codgers that they need to be more progressive, and that if we approach the fielding of motors with a degree of professionalism and competence we can do it without making them look reckless? For Pete's sake, I could pay for the motor in the first six months..... Pangn |
|
I will drop a call on my buddy who is a motor officer instructor and the guy that ran the class I was in. I'll see what I can find. You may want to check ODMP.org they have line of duty death stats. They are one dangerous SOB but so are lots of other parts of the program. A full scale motor officer training is required. Michigan State University has a good one, so does Harley. Joe |
|
I would AVOID the numbers of injured/killed. That is a sore spot in their memory and the numbers will not be in your favor. Rather, show the cost advantage, performance advantage, and their usefulness in police work. Concentrate on the positive and avoid the negatives. |
| Another thing you may want to make your chief aware of is Harley has a leasing program. All the departments in my area use it. The only catch that I'm aware of is the bikes have to be maintained by the Harley dealership but the departments end up getting new bikes every couple of years. |
|
Consider the BMW R1200RT/P motorcycle. Much safer motorcycle. More reliable, too. www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=r1200rtp&bikeSection=tour -p. |
Their advantages have to be properly applied. Maneuverability, fuel efficiency, and PR are among their benefits, but these can only succeed if good training and officer selection are part of the package. A hothead who can barely keep his Crown Vic on the road, is always burning up tires and brakes, and having close calls while driving is likely not a good candidate for motors. You cannot operate a police motorcycle the same way you drive your patrol car. When your poor driving habits bite you in the a$$, it hurts a lot worse. Motors are great for special functions, i.e. parades, funerals, special events. Kids love them. Chicks dig the boots. Extra details with extra officers can be offset budget-wise, to a point, because motors use so much less fuel. Traffic enforcement can take on a new aura. When a motorist is pulled over by a motor officer, they are less likely to come up with some of the more entertaining B.S. because they might have accepted the programming that you are primarily a traffic officer. I know that sounds a little Big Brother-ish but in my experience, it has a degree of truth. The disadvantages can easily outweigh the benefits in the beginning, if you're trying to implement a motor program (what I'm in the middle of.) You have virtually no protection. No seat belt, no side-impact beams, no airbags (unless you bought the new Gold Wing). At speed, you will be ejected, and trust me when I say that polyester is no better than denim at preventing road rash. It's particularly fun to dig out melted pieces of plastic from large abraded areas of your butt. That being said, you have to rely on a strategy of 99% defensive driving while on two wheels, even more than if you are on a personal bike. You're not just riding, you're patrolling. Add that to the already more divisive task of riding versus driving, and you can see how the hotheaded officer can quickly become a hood ornament or decorate a ditch with his gunbelt. Downsides be damned, I loved being a motor officer. I'd like to be one again, if I can help the chief squeak the idea the rest of the way into our commissioner's heads, which so far has been like trying to thread a needle with a sausage. Thanks for the input, everyone. As far as brand preference, I've had buyer's packages updated for three years, for when the chief asks. I'm holding my breath for that the same way I'm waiting for the ATF to approve my two Form 4s.  |
Thx for the response. I work across the hall from our motorcycle officers, we call them solo units here. I've just always wondered about the advantages over using regular police cars. I think our unit has about 60 officers here and all the bikes are personally owned. You still have to carry your own insurance but you are covered through the department for accidents within the scope of your duties. The PD covers all fuel costs and and you get $500 month extra here. Most commonly purchased bikes in order are the HD Road King, Honda Goldwing, and the Honda ST1300's are becoming popular. With the City of Houston all funerals must use motorcycle escorts per city ordinance, and all the jobs are off duty, so there is lots of money to be made. As an accident investigator one things that baffles me is why most motor officers dont wear more protection, at least a full face helmet. |