NCJ Number
144922
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 20 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 30-33
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the vehicles, role, selection, and training of police motorcycle officers.
Abstract
The two major suppliers of police motorcycles in the United States are Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Kawasaki (Lincoln, Neb.). The features and cost of the various motorcycles supplied to police by these manufacturers are described in this article. Both manufacturers provide state-of-the-art police motorcycles. Most agencies still use a volunteer selection method for motor officers, and there is usually a waiting list to transfer to motor patrol. Personnel turnover rates are usually low, and there is a high spirit of camaraderie among the officers. This is remarkable given the working conditions of the motor officer. The discomfort of the winter cold and the summer heat combine with poor protection against gunfire and vehicle assaults, as well as greater risk of traffic accidents to make this a high-risk police assignment. The advantages of the motorcycle officer are maneuverability and improved responsiveness to sight and sound. Motorcycles are particularly suited to the supervision of parades and funeral processions, selective enforcement, equipment inspections, road blocks, traffic flow management, and traffic law enforcement. At least two universities offer top-rated police motorcycle operator/instructor courses: North Western University Traffic Institute and the Institute of Police Technology and Management at the University of North Florida. These training programs are profiled in this article.