By Robert Moulton

Police chief

Sgt. John O’Malley will introduce and explain benefits of the department’s motorcycle program. O’Malley and Officer Frank Plourd were the first two officers selected to attend the training and become motor officers. 

O’Malley is currently in charge of the program, while Plourd continues to ride during summer when he is not on his current assignment as the high school’s resource officer. Officers Mike Beeler and Brian Nappi are the two newest members of the unit. 

In spring 1999, Harley Davidson made an offer to police departments that was hard to refuse. They would supply us with a new Harley Davidson Road King with a six-month lease. The price of that lease was less than it cost to put fuel in a patrol car for the same period. This was an unforeseen benefit.  The planned benefit was to have the motorcycle operate in areas patrol cars couldn’t, like sidewalks, behind buildings, and through heavy traffic. This unit would be visible at every intersection in town. For years officers have referred to their patrol cars as “fishbowls.”

In a time of community policing we were taking away the glass barrier between officer and public. 

In April 1999, Chief Moulton sent two officers to motor officers’ school in Massachusetts for two weeks. This school sponsored by Northwestern University, was taught by Harley Davidson. Harley sent two instructors, a mechanic and a fleet of brand new 1999 Harley Davidson Road Kings to an abandoned Air Force base in Massachusetts.  Officers spent the first day in the classroom learning about their future partner, how and why it works. On the second day they were brought to a fleet of brand new motorcycles lined up with military precision, except one, which appeared to be on display in front of all the others. These 15 officers stood in amazement at the display. For the first few minutes if the instructor was talking it is certain none of these officers heard a word. They were giddy they might get to ride one of these bikes. 

The instructor quickly got their attention. He walked in front of the group right behind this one lone bike and said in a loud military manner, “The first thing you must learn how to do is…” Bang! He kicked this brand new bike over, right on its side, on the pavement, on its beautiful chrome bars, on its unused handle bars. Who could do this? More importantly, he’s right, how do you pick this 750-pound bike up?  

For the next two weeks officers listened intently to a trained California Highway Patrol sergeant and a Michigan State Police lieutenant. These two officers took this rag tag group of know-it-all cops from knowing it all to knowing nothing and to understanding how and why. They spent the next two weeks beating and breaking both the bikes and the officers 10 to 12 hours a day. The group that once looked at these bikes with the hope of getting into the seat now were trying to find new and creative ways to sit in the seat to alleviate saddle sores. Officers drove the bikes down wooded trails, snagging saplings with the handle bars. 

By the end of the two weeks most officers were doing things on these bikes they’d only seen in the circus and all of them and their brand new machines had been on the ground at one time or another, most more than 40 times. Their confidence on these Harleys was high. Now it was time for the final exam. Officers were put through the paces. This abandoned Air Force base became a sea of cones. Officers had to run the gauntlet of challenges. Out of 15 students, several did not pass the exam.  

However, Scarborough police philosophy was clear on this – pass this and you ride, don’t and you’re back in the “cage” as motorcyclists call a car. Both Scarborough officers passed and were sent home as Northwestern University and Harley Davidson certified motor officers and the first official Scarborough motor officers.

Since then, Scarborough Police Motor Program has been a leader in the state.  Several agencies have adopted similar programs based on our experience and information. Because of upgrades, we have been able to outfit our bike with state of the art equipment including a radar unit capable of reading vehicle speeds from several approaches. Our two-way radio system is capable of broadcasting a full 110 watts and scanning multiple frequencies while using a handle bar mounted push-to-talk button allowing the operator to maintain hand position while speaking from a microphone mounted on his helmet and listening to a speaker inside his helmet.  

The emergency lights are the newest LED lights along with traditional strobe lights.  Even the graphics on the bike have been installed with officer safety in mind as they are all 100 percent reflective. The best part is that the majority of this equipment was paid for courtesy of convicted local drug dealers, who were forced by the court to forfeit their proceeds.

The motor unit primarily is used as an area patrol vehicle and handles all calls just as a car unit would. But on many occasions it is in service as a dedicated traffic enforcement unit, working speed details in high traffic areas or driving up next to vehicles looking for seatbelt violations or open alcohol containers. It also serves as an escort vehicle. Many times we are called upon to lead funeral processions. While this looks impressive, it also serves as a valuable resource we could not do with a car.

The Scarborough Fire, Police and Public Works Departments produce a weekly feature for the Leader educating the public about various duties of the departments and public safety issues.