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MOTORCYCLE POLICE NEWS.
Police Officers in the News - April 2006
Here is the article archive of headlines that have appeared in newspapers around the United States which relate to police motorcycle officers.


4/1/2006
Motorcycle officers head for police rodeo - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Rumbling motorcycles will fill the east parking lot of the Coral Square Mall today when the 17th annual Southeast Police Motorcycle Police Rodeo kicks off at 9 a.m. at 9460 W. Atlantic Blvd. The charity fund-raiser, to benefit Concerns of Police Survivors and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is free and open to the public.

Spectators can watch timed skills competitions in which motorcycle officers from agencies across the southeastern United States maneuver their 800-pound motorcycles around plastic cones at different rates of speed, said Allen Adkins, a Broward Sheriff's deputy and president of the Southeast Police Motorcycle Rodeo Committee....     Read the full story.

4/2/2006
Hog, not bull, riding at this rodeo - Coral Springs, FL
The rodeo in Coral Springs on Saturday did not showcase cowboys trying to stay seated on the back of thrashing bulls.

There weren't any men in hats chasing down calves or wrestling them to the ground.

And there was no bronco busting.

These rodeo participants were decked out in full police uniforms, and rode bulky motorcycles bearing the insignia of the agency they represented.

More than 100 law-enforcement officers showed off their motorcycle riding skills Saturday at the 17th Southeast Police Motorcycle Rodeo.

Officers negotiated narrow, snaking paths marked by orange traffic cones in the parking lot of the Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs.

''This is my seventh year competing and it's great,'' said officer John Bork of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. ``We have fun while training and get to enjoy this beautiful weather.''

It was raining and gray in Maryland on Saturday, Bork said.

Twenty-eight teams with 144 riders from around the country took part in the annual event, which benefits COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of South Florida.

All the proceeds from food, T-shirt and raffle sales benefit the two charities. The event has raised $250,000 over the past 16 years.

The raffle prize -- donated by Harley-Davidson of Fort Lauderdale and Harley-Davidson Motor Co. in Milwaukee -- is a 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster bike. The free event was sponsored by the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Coral Springs police department.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, riders lined up outside the yellow tape that outlined the course. The roar of the motorcycles barely masked the blare of the music -- a little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll -- emanating from the grandstand.

As the officers lined up, preparing to maneuver through the intricate course, their families, friends and motorcycle enthusiasts cheered them on.

But there were pitfalls.

Touch a cone, you lose a point. Knock down the cone, you rack up five penalty points. Drop the motorcycle, and you can forget about winning first place.

For the officers who participated, the rodeo was not only fun but also a good training exercise....     Read the full story.

4/5/2006
Charges Pending After Crash Injures Denver Motorcycle Officer - Denver, CO
Charges are pending against a motorist accused of running a red light and hitting a Denver motorcycle officer, knocking him across several lanes of traffic at at Speer Boulevard and Lawrence Street.

Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Kevin Smolka, 47, suffered road rash in the Tuesday accident that happened just before 9 a.m.

He was conscious and alert when transported to Denver Health Medical Center, but has since been released.

Smolka's partner was riding with him on another motorcycle, but was not hit. The crash sent Smolka's motorcycle careening about 40 feet into a light pole....     Read the full story.

4/6/2006
Officer Injured While Escorting Rehabilitated Seal - Ocean City, MD
A harp seal found stranded in February on Delaware's Bethany Beach is healthy again and has been returned to the Atlantic Ocean.

The 1-year-old female seal was sick with pneumonia and a gastrointestinal irritation and spent the last two months recuperating at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

The seal, nicknamed Kola, was transported from the aquarium under police escort this morning to Ocean City, where she was released about 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, a Baltimore police motorcycle officer was injured while stopping traffic for the seal escort.

Police say 42-year-old James Smith was in position to stop traffic when he was sideswiped by a pickup truck driver. Smith was knocked to the pavement and is in hospitalized in good condition. City police say he is expected to sent home Thursday....     Read the full story.

4/7/2006
Police cracking down on speeders - Murrieta, CA
Drivers in too much of a hurry on Washington Avenue got a surprise Friday morning: Murrieta police were pulling speeders over and issuing tickets as part of a program to reduce speeding in the city, they say.

Officers who have investigated accidents found that speeding was too often the cause, Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese said Friday. Based on that, police Chief Mark Wright authorized 500 hours of overtime ---- about $30,000 ---- for a Safe Streets program, Froboese said.

That overtime will allow traffic division officers to extend their working day by two hours over the next 90 days so they can aggressively address the problem of speeding, he said.

Froboese said he, Hadden and officer Dave Christensen issued 26 tickets Friday between about 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m at different locations throughout the city.

On Washington north of Kalmia Street, the speed limit is 40 mph. Within 50 minutes Friday morning, three motorcycle officers on Washington at Alexandria Drive issued 13 tickets ---- all for drivers exceeding 55 mph, he said.

The fact that all of the tickets were at for least 15 mph over the speed limit shows there is a speeding problem in the city, Froboese said.

Most drivers who would comment said they did not realize how fast they were going. One, who did not want to be identified, did not believe he was going 59 mph, so Sgt. Sean Hadden showed him the reading on his laser gun.

"Then he apologized," Hadden said....     Read the full story.

4/7/2006
DA reopening 10-year-old case - San Bernardino, CA
...Stull said the case is similar to a recent one that left California Highway Patrol motorcycle Officer Steve Schwingel paralyzed throughout much of his body.

In October 2004, the CHP officer was riding a motorcycle to his east Highland home, when a pickup backed out quickly from a driveway, hit him and pinned him underneath.

The pickup's driver, Corey Oakley, 40, faces one charge of misdemeanor reckless driving with bodily injury.

Stull expressed frustration with the law that prevents prosecutors from pursuing tougher charges.

"It's probably going to take more cases like this for someone to go, 'Duh,' and say, 'This is not right,' " the prosecutor said....     Read the full story.

4/7/2006
Local police raise funds for wounded officer - Marquette, MI
Funds are being collected to help a Battle Creek police officer and Negaunee-area native who was shot in the face during a fugitive standoff in the Lower Peninsula city on Friday.

Robert Miller, 32, was released from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo on Tuesday and is recuperating at home. Though Miller is expected to recover from his injuries, Battle Creek Police Department Commander Jackie Hampton didn’t know when he will return to work.

“While this was a very, very sad incident, on the other hand, we’re so relieved his injuries weren’t fatal and that Rob is supposed to make a full recovery,” Hampton said.

He added that department officers were noticeably relieved when they heard Miller would survive, since a Battle Creek detective was killed during a murder investigation last May.

Miller is a Suomi Location native, 1992 graduate of Negaunee High School, and 1998 graduate of Northern Michigan University’s Regional Police Academy. After serving as a part-time deputy with the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department for about five years, he joined the Battle Creek Police Department in November 1998.

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Department is coordinating fund-raising efforts in this area through next Friday, according to Undersheriff Jack Schneider.

“It’s a way to give him a financial boost for expenses that aren’t covered and until worker’s compensation paperwork is complete and kicks in,” Schneider said. “A lot of police people in this area know Rob and know what a good guy he is.”

Funds in the form of checks and money orders can be mailed or dropped off at the sheriff’s department at 236 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855.

They can also be sent directly to the Battle Creek Police Department in care of Robert Miller, 20 N. Division, Battle Creek, MI 49014.

For more information, call Schneider at the sheriff’s office at 225-8452 or Battle Creek police at 269-966-3322.

Miller is a member of the police emergency response team and motorcycle patrol unit, and has been active in the nearby Kellogg Community College law enforcement program, Hampton said.

Miller was one of two officers shot by 33-year-old murder suspect Leroy Wilson during a two-hour standoff that resulted from the attempt to apprehend him at a Battle Creek residence....     Read the full story.

4/8/2006
Organizers, police expect peaceful demonstration - Phoenix, AZ
...Hill said some scrounging had to be done to get enough Phoenix officers.

"We still have to carry on normal policing throughout the city that day," Hill said. "So we're putting some detectives into uniform and drawing on other sources to provide as many people as possible."

That includes having officers excused from testifying in superior and federal courts Monday. Hill said about 100 Phoenix motorcycle officers, as well motor officers from Mesa and Tempe, would ride along with the marchers.

At the DPS, some days off have been canceled and officers are being brought in on overtime to provide security at the Coliseum and Capitol.

Tactical teams will be in staging areas, ready in the event of trouble. And police helicopters will be overhead to help spot problems.

A police command post will be set up at Margaret T. Hance Park, near the march route.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said his deputies, tactical team and 3,000-member posse will be on standby.

In addition, the Sheriff's Office will man a downtown area that will serve as a detention site for anyone arrested.

"We are expecting, and hope for, a peaceful demonstration," Hill said. "However, we are preparing for all contingencies, and anyone who breaks the law will be held accountable."...     Read the full story.

4/10/2006
Motorcycle Officer Injured in Freeway Crash - Los Angeles, CA
An LAPD officer was injured when his service motorcycle crashed on a Los Angeles freeway near the site of three other accidents, the California Highway Patrol reported today.

The crash occurred on the southbound Harbor (110) Freeway just north of Century Boulevard about 11:30 p.m. yesterday, said CHP Officer Alex Gonzalez. The officer was taken to Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center with moderate injuries, including multiple lacerations and abrasions, Gonzalez said. His name was not released.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, said CHP Officer John Seumanutafa....     Read the full story.

4/12/2006
Motorcycle cops chase suspected car thief; ends in crash - Pittsburgh, PA
A police chase in Homewood this morning sent two people to the hospital, one with a severe head injury, police said.

Sgt. Michael Delcimmuto said two motorcycle officers pulled over a blue Buick at the corner of Forbes and Braddock avenues at about 8 a.m.

When the officers approached the car, the driver told them he did not have a license, Delcimmuto said. The officers noticed the steering column was broken, which can indicate a stolen car, he said.

The car sped away on North Dallas Avenue, and the officers began pursuit. The Buick struck several parked cars in the 600 block of North Dallas before coming to a stop, Delcimmuto said....     Read the full story.

4/13/2006
Motorcycle officers run mock motorcade in advance of Vice President's visit - Spokane, WA
Vice President Dick Cheney is set to visit Spokane next Monday to help raise money for US Senate candidate Mike McGavick’s campaign. On Wednesday, local law enforcement agencies conducted a mock motorcade in preparation for Cheney’s visit.

A unified command of 29 motorcycle patrol officers from Spokane Police, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol got together to conduct a dress rehearsal of the motorcade route from Airway Heights to Spokane, rehearsing the route they will be driving next week during the Vice President’s visit.

Escorting a motorcade is the most dangerous job a motorcycle officer performs. Reaching speeds of a hundred miles an hour they block driveways, side streets, freeway on and off ramps as well as pedestrians to get the motorcade to it's destination as quickly as possible....     Read the full story.

4/13/2006
Trooper Seriously Hurt In SR512 Crash - Puyallup, WA
A truck hit and seriously wounded a Washington State Patrol trooper just after he issued a ticket alongside state Route 512 Thursday morning, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

A State Patrol spokesman said the driver of a box truck lost control and hit the trooper's motorcycle, pushing the trooper into the minivan he had pulled over near Puyallup.

The injured trooper's partner saw what happened.

"He had just cleared a traffic stop, looked up ahead, saw the van lose control and knew that his partner was up ahead. Before he could even think, he saw our trooper fly through the air," said Trooper J.J. Gundermann, a State Patrol spokesman.

The trooper is in serious condition. He was conscious as he was transported to Tacoma General Hospital.

The driver of the van and her 4-year-old child were also hurt and were taken to a hospital.

State troopers took the driver of the box truck into custody. A woman inside the truck was questioned by Washington State Patrol detectives about what happened inside the truck just before the crash.

Video from Chopper 7 showed the downed motorcycle, the crashed truck and the van as State Patrol investigators examined the scene....     Read the full story.

4/13/2006
Motorcyle trooper hit by van while writing ticket - Puyallup, WA
A Washington State Patrol motorcyle trooper was injured Thursday morning when he was hit by a truck on Highway 512 between Canyon and 94th in Pierce County.

Trooper Dan Hefton, 41, was off of his motorcycle, writing the driver of a Kia Sedona a ticket, when a moving van driven by a 25-year-old man from Mineral, Wash., swerved off of the road and hit him and the Sedona.

"Witnesses said it threw him significantly and he landed on his head,” said Trooper JJ Gundermann.

Hefton, a veteran of nearly 13 years, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was to be released later in the day.

The woman and a 3-year-old girl in the van were also hurt.

Investigators believe the driver of the van had passed another trooper on a motorcycle, who was pulling into traffic east of Hefton. The van driver, who has a suspended driver's license, then attempted to switched positions with a woman who was riding with him, because he feared being stopped. In the process of the switch, the van lost control, striking Hefton and the Kia Sedona....     Read the full story.

4/16/2006
Sandy Springs intends to meet FBI's recommended number of police - Sandy Springs, GA
...Like many communities, we have inadequate infrastructure for all the vehicles moving across our community. That leads to speeding along neighborhood streets as commuters seek less crowded, more efficient ways to their destinations.

Frustrated and threatened by excessive traffic and speed on their residential streets, neighborhoods are demanding traffic-calming appliances to slow down these errant drivers. I believe the most effective traffic-calming device is a motorcycle cop with a radar gun.

Heed the warning. We will shortly have several of these traffic control devices randomly stationed along the 60 streets recently approved for speed detection devices....     Read the full story.

4/16/2006
Crash Sends Police Officer To Hospital - Winter Garden, FL
The daughter of the man arrested in a chain reaction crash that sent a Winter Garden police officer to the hospital admitted her father had been drinking. Police arrested 27-year-old Anguius Rohas.

Winter Garden Police Officer James Capeletti was riding his motorcycle on duty along Colonial Drive Sunday afternoon. Police said a truck lost control at Dillard Street, crossed the median, and hit an SUV. It then slammed into Officer Capeletti’s motorcycle.

A medical helicopter took the veteran officer to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Channel 9 Eyewitness News was told he was stable when he entered surgery, but that his ankle was badly injured.

Florida Highway Patrol Troopers arrested the truck's driver, 27-year-old Anguius Rohas, on charges of driving on a revoked license, but said more charges are pending. The driver’s young daughter, who had been riding with him, admitted her father had consumed a couple of beers and might not have been paying attention at the time of the crash....     Read the full story.

4/19/2006
Flight for Life responds to officer down near Sunnyslope in Mount Pleasant - Mt. Pleasant, WI
On Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at approximately 10:48am, a Mt. Pleasant Police Department Motorcycle Officer, Paul Maccari, crashed while responding lights and siren to a report of a Burglary in progress, officers on the scene of the burglary were in foot pursuit.

Three witnesses on the scene of the accident reported that the responding motor officer was traveling at approximately 50mph with lights and siren activated. The motorcycle hit a hole in the pavement near the center of the roadway on Sunnyslope Drive causing the officer to lose control of the motorcycle and strike the concrete curb on northbound Sunnyslope Drive at Kelsey Court in the Village of Mt. Pleasant.

The officer was thrown off the motorcycle. Mt. Pleasant Fire Department sent our officer via Flight for Life to Froedert Hospital for possible internal injuries, broken ribs, and related injuries. These injuries are considered non-life threatening and the officer has been admitted overnight for treatment and observation. Officer Maccari is a 25-year veteran of the department and has been a motor officer for the past 10 years. Police continue to investigate the accident....     Read the full story.

4/19/2006
New police officer helps to boost traffic stats - Petaluma, CA
Boosted by a $215,000 grant received last year, the Petaluma Police Department's Traffic Unit issued more citations and reported fewer collisions during the first three months of 2006, said Traffic Sgt. Tim Lyons.

From Jan. 1 to March 31, police made 100 DUI arrests, compared with 83 during the same period last year. Also, traffic citations from 3-8 p.m. increased from 370 in 2005 to 503 in 2006 and traffic collisions fell from 242 to 224. Overall traffic citations during the first quarter rose from 1,606 to 2,100.

The grant was used partially to hire a new traffic motorcycle officer to strengthen evening traffic-enforcement staffing, and Lyons feels this has helped to improve the first-quarter statistics....     Read the full story.

4/21/2006
BPD starts motorcycle patrol - Bloomington, IN
It's not every day that the Harley-rider, revving his engine and wearing dark-tinted, aviator sunglasses, is a police officer. But this is exactly the type of motorcycle rider the Bloomington Police Department envisions.

Mayor Mark Kruzan formally introduced BPD's new Motorcycle Patrol Program at a press conference Thursday in front of city hall.

The new program, outfitted with two 2006 Harley-Davidsons, hopes to increase police visibility and accessibility.

Because the bikes are smaller, their mobility will allow them to better negotiate traffic jams, said Police Chief Mike Hostetler.

Councilman Mike Diekhoff said that one of the most common complaints citizens have is of cars speeding through neighborhoods. The motorcycles will be used primarily to mediate the problem because they are faster and more manageable in Bloomington's small streets than squad cars.

Police officers on motorcycles are also more accessible than police officers in squad cars, said Hostetler....     Read the full story.

4/22/2006
CCPD motorcycle officer struck by car - Corpus Christi, TX
A Corpus Christi police officer is recovering after he's run over on his motorcycle. It happened around noon Saturday near Del Mar College when the officer was taking part in a funeral procession.

Police said a Pontiac was driving down S. Staples, apparently the driver didn't notice the intersection at Louisiana was blocked off and hit Sr. Officer Christopher Lynch on his motorcycle, as he was crossing the intersection.

Lynch was rushed to the hospital with bruises and cuts, but fortunately he was released Saturday evening and is doing well.

"It's a dangerous business...the funeral escorts. Because you have intersections that you have to take, and it's just kinda the nature of that job. It's a very dangerous scenario," said CCPD Lt. Jason Brady....     Read the full story.

4/25/2006
Temecula Police Officer Struck By Hit-And-Run - Temecula, CA
A Temecula Police Department motorcycle officer was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon, possibly with a broken arm, after being struck a hit-and-run driver, police say.

Police at the scene reported the officer was making a traffic stop when the driver sped away and struck him near Nicholas and Liefer roads at about 3:15 p.m.

The car involved in the hit-and-run was abandoned and a man believed to be a passenger was captured on foot near Park Point Court and Serafina Road....     Read the full story.

4/25/2006
State Trooper's Motorcycle Clipped By Car - Boston, MA
A Massachusetts State Police officer is recovering from minor injuries Tuesday night after being clipped by a car while riding a motorcycle on Park Street in Boston.

According to state police, the trooper was responding to a call when the incident occurred. Officials say the officer did have the motorcycle’s lights and air horn activated.

A driver, who was traveling behind the trooper, noticed the officer’s lights and attempted to yield, but instead, clipped the back of the bike.

The officer was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was later released, said state police....     Read the full story.

4/26/2006
Suspect ID'd in hit-run of Temecula officer - Temecula, CA
Authorities Wednesday identified the suspected driver wanted in connection with a hit-and-run that injured a Temecula police motorcycle officer.

Dane Michael Brueggeman, 20, is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds with black hair and blue eyes, said Sgt. Mike Ellsworth of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Brueggeman also has a large tattoo on his right arm that appears to illustrate a hand holding four playing cards.

Although Brueggeman has no known home address, he does have family in the Menifee area, Ellsworth said.

Officers and deputies have been searching for Brueggeman since a hit-and-run collision about 3:25 p.m. Tuesday that injured the motorcycle officer.

The officer, who said he smelled what he thought was marijuana in the car, put his hand on Brueggeman as he sat in the 2004 Gray Infiniti G35 during an attempted traffic stop at Riverton Lane and Calle Medusa.

Brueggeman then shifted the car into drive and pulled away, injuring the officer in the process, officials said....     Read the full story.

4/26/2006
CB police to target pedestrian safety - Coos Bay, OR
The next time you see a pedestrian crossing the street in front of your oncoming car, it would be wise to stop.

The Coos Bay Police Department has received a grant of $4,000 from the Oregon Department of Transportation to fund pedestrian safety operations. In these operations, police will have a pedestrian decoy cross the street in front of oncoming cars at designated crosswalks. A police officer then will stop vehicles observed violating Oregon's pedestrian safety laws.

“We're not out on a ticket-writing campaign,” said Officer Ken Labrousse, one of the two Coos Bay Police officers who will be conducting the pedestrian safety operations. “We're not having decoys jump out directly in front of cars and then writing tickets when cars don't react in time. We'll give vehicles a lot of room to stop. And the decoys will be wearing brightly colored clothing. We don't want them getting hit.”

When conducting operations, Labrousse said, a marker would be set up a pre-determined distance from crosswalks, which exist at every intersection, whether the crosswalk is marked on the pavement or not. When a vehicle reaches the marker, the decoy will start crossing the street. The marker's placement takes into account the speed zone of the street to allow the oncoming vehicle an acceptable amount of time to react and stop for the pedestrian. In a 25-mph speed zone, for example, vehicles will be given 161 feet to stop for a pedestrian crossing the street. A police motorcycle or patrol car will be parked nearby, said Labrousse, to “ticket especially flagrant violations” of pedestrian safety laws....     Read the full story.

4/27/2006
CHP officer, 3 others injured in crash - San Mateo, CA
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was one of three people injured in a multi-vehicle crash this morning.

The series of collisions happened on Highway 92, west of Interstate 280, shortly before 9 a.m., CHP Officer Eric Parsons said.

David Aguilar, 64, of Palo Alto, was headed west on 92 when he lost control of his yellow Ford pickup and hit a tan Nissan Pathfinder stopped at a red light on Highway 35, Parsons said.

The Nissan, driven by Kathleen Baker, 55, of Moss Beach, was then pushed into the motorcycle officer, who was stopped directly behind it. After striking the Nissan, Aguilar's pickup turned clockwise and collided with the right side of a silver Volkswagen van driven by Mark O'Connel, 43, of Montara, Parsons said. The van, which was behind the officer's motorcycle, was pushed into Dianna Carthew's red Ford Mustang.

The CHP officer and all of the drivers except Carthew, 43, of Moss Beach, were taken to nearby hospitals with minor injuries. It appears they were all properly restrained, Parsons said....     Read the full story.

4/28/2006
Police motorcycle, trash truck collide - Naperville, IL
A police motorcycle and garbage truck collided Thursday morning, snarling traffic on two of Ogden Avenue's four lanes between Aurora and Jefferson Avenues, closing them for 2 1/2 hours as authorities investigated.

Police said the motorcycle officer, who was treated and released at Edward Hospital, was headed east on Ogden about 9 a.m. when the garbage truck tried to turn right into a private driveway and collided with the officer, said Lt. Vince Gortner. The garbage truck driver was not injured....     Read the full story.

4/29/2006
E-tickets: Boosting police efficiency - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
It's the kind of customer service that some customers won't much appreciate.

A proposed new "e-ticketing" system promises to reduce the amount of time busted drivers in York Region spend on the roadside waiting for their tickets.

"It's faster to produce a ticket — in and out really quickly," said York Regional Police information technology project manager Bernadette Searle. "(We) like to be cutting edge."

But the ticket itself — computer-generated and printed on durable paper — could make it more difficult for drivers to challenge fines.

"You know how it is to read someone's scribbles. Sometimes information is missing. It's not legible. You know, numbers are off, or locations. (But with e-ticketing), it can't be as easily disputed if it's on printed material that's clear and concise," Searle said.

York's police service is looking for vendors and accepting bids for such a system, which Searle said could also reduce human error and increase worker efficiency.

E-ticketing essentially means an officer can use software to electronically create a ticket from a computer and print the tag out at the scene of the violation.

The Ontario Provincial Police says 318 cruisers throughout the province already have a system involving a computer and printer installed in a car. But York is considering taking it a step further with handheld devices that don't tie an officer to the cruiser's console. The portable device could come with a perforated roll of tickets inside an attached compact printer, which would make it usable by motorcycle officers....     Read the full story.

4/29/2006
Motorcycle officer in critical condition after hit-and-run - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Police are questioning two people in a hit-and-run collision with a motorcycle officer.

Tempe police Sergeant Dan Masters says a Mustang ran a red light at Price and Apache in Tempe. The car struck 37-year-old Gilbert police officer Rob Targosz.

The Mustang and motorcycle were engulfed in flames. The driver and passenger in the car took off on foot.

Targos suffered grave injuries, including a crushed pelvis. The 12-year veteran of Gilbert P-D is in extremely critical condition at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Hospital.

Police tracked down the two people in the Mustang using police dogs. They are being questioned tonight....     Read the full story.

4/30/2006
Hit-run crashes kill 2, hurt 1 - Gilbert, AZ
Hit-and-runs have painted a streak of death and injury across the East Valley since Friday night. Three such crashes since then killed two people and put a Gilbert police officer in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The most recent involved the officer who was hit by a red-light runner while riding his police motorcycle south on Price Road about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, said Tempe Sgt. Dan Masters. The officer was riding from his Tempe home to work in Gilbert.

Gilbert police identified the officer as 37-year-old Rob Targosz, a 12-year veteran of the force who was recently married.

The Ford Mustang that hit him was driving east on Apache Boulevard when its driver passed cars stopped at a red light at Price and charged through the intersection, Masters said.

The Mustang hit the off-duty, fully-uniformed officer, and both the car and motorcycle burst into flames, Masters said. Witnesses saw the passenger and driver climb out the driver’s window and run away, he said.

The passenger later returned and was handcuffed. Police were not sure whether he would face charges, Masters said. Officers searched a nearby apartment complex with a police dog for the driver and arrested him late Saturday, Masters said. Neither the passenger’s nor the driver’s name were released....     Read the full story.

4/30/2006
Escaped horses trot on freeway - San Dimas
Two horses temporarily escaped their beast-of-burden designations after they pushed their owner aside and ran off onto a nearby freeway, Saturday afternoon.

Los Angeles County Police officers from the Bonelli Park station responded to a call from one of the park's lifeguards about two escaped horses at 2:45 p.m., Sgt. David Johnson said The incident began in Bonelli Park, when two ‘‘green,'' or inexperienced, horses got away from their owner, Johnson said.

‘‘They broke loose at Bonelli Park and overpowered the owner and kind of pushed her down,'' Johnson said.

The horses were young and not yet used to being ridden, even though the riders were experienced, he explained.

After breaking free from their owner, the two horses bolted onto the 57 Freeway, Johnson said.

The first horse exited the freeway at Arrow Highway, but the other horse kept running, Johnson explained. That horse ended up in the parking lot at an Applebee's restaurant, Johnson said.

When reached by phone, employees at the restaurant said they did not see the incident.

The second horse then trotted onto the 210 Freeway, Johnson said. At that point, a CHP motor officer slowed traffic down so motorists would not injure the horse, CHP Officer Patrick Kimball said.

The horse exited at Foothill Boulevard, Johnson said. There, the motorcycle officer grabbed a lead that was hanging off the horse and led him into a nearby gas station in La Verne, Johnson said....     Read the full story.



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