September 2005 News Articles of Motorcycle Police Officers

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MOTORCYCLE POLICE NEWS.

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Police Officers in the News - September 2005
Here is the article archive of headlines that have appeared in newspapers around the United States which relate to police motorcycle officers.

9/3/2005
Pneumonia delays surgery for Culpeper officer - Culpeper, VA
A Culpeper police officer injured when a car hit his motorcycle during a funeral procession remains in critical but stable condition and has developed pneumonia, a police spokeswoman said yesterday.

Officer Roscoe Barnes has been in an induced coma with head and leg injuries at University of Virginia Medical Center since the Sunday afternoon accident. Police spokeswoman Bethany Sullivan said Barnes developed pneumonia Thursday as a result of lying on his back for a prolonged time.

Surgery scheduled for yesterday to set a broken bone in Barnes' leg was postponed because of the pneumonia and because each time the officer is moved the swelling in his brain intensifies, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said family members told police that doctors believe Barnes also suffered a broken wrist and broken ankle in the crash.

Barnes was thrown across the hood of a car that allegedly pulled into the path of his motorcycle. He landed on the asphalt on the Sperryville Pike near Kelly Street.

The procession was stopped at the time, and Barnes, who police say had his emergency lights on, was apparently moving into the right lane of traffic to get ahead of the mourners when the collision occurred.... Read the full story.

9/4/2005
Bikers in Blue: State Police Motorcycle Unit up to speed a half century after the original was disbanded. - Trenton, NJ
When Trooper Michael Ambrosio thinks about the future of the State Police Motorcycle Unit, he sees 100 custom-made Harley-Davidsons deployed throughout New Jersey.

For now, Ambrosio — a member of the unit and part of the driving force behind its re-creation — must make do with the four motorcycles the State Police purchased last year when it re-established the unit after a 50-year absence.

"It's been a really good experience during the last year, and I have to say that I hope it stays that way," said Ambrosio, 42, of Freehold Township. "The motorcycles will never take the place of a trooper's patrol car, but the motorcycles sure serve a purpose."

The spark for reviving the unit came when Ambrosio wrote his master's thesis about the original unit, saw the success of motorcycle units in other states and submitted a proposal in 2003 to Col. Joseph "Rick" Fuentes, the State Police superintendent.

Today — just about a year later — the unit has the same four motorcycles, but seven troopers are certified to ride the motorcycles. Four troopers are on active duty at any time with the unit, which will finish the second year of its pilot program on Nov. 1.

The new unit comes as motorcycle squads have become increasingly popular with police departments during the past 10 years. From small departments like Little Silver to larger ones like Wall or Dover Township, motorcycles are now part of everyday patrols.... Read the full story.

9/7/2005
Barnes endures surgery - Culpeper, VA
Officer William “Roscoe” Barnes underwent surgery on Tuesday, police announced.

Doctors at the U.Va. Health System, where Barnes has been in critical condition since Aug. 28, operated on his leg, which was broken when the motorcycle officer collided with a car while directing traffic for a funeral procession.

Barnes sustained several broken bones in the accident, as well as serious head injuries.

The surgery for his leg had initially been postponed due to the severity of his head injuries, but, over the weekend, doctors began re-evaluating his condition and determined it was safe to proceed.

All indicators remained positive Tuesday, according to an announcement from the Culpeper Police Department.

The police thanked the community for its “continued prayers and support” and also for the donations they’ve received for the Barnes family.

Barnes, 44, is a father of three, and his wife is expecting another child in November.

A donation fund, The Friends of William C. Barnes, is accepting contributions at P.O. Box 963, Culpeper, Va., 22701.... Read the full story.

9/8/2005
Motorcycle officer hurt in accident - Ogden, UT
An Ogden Police motorcycle officer was injured Monday after an accident at the intersection of 20th Street and Harrison Blvd.

The officer was pursuing a speeding driver, when the driver stopped suddenly in the intersection and the officer collided with the car, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Lee Perry.

The officer was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a broken clavicle.... Read the full story.

9/9/2005
Police motorcycle club soars after getting charter - Peterborough,Ontario,Canada
Stew Garland said he and his fellow Blue Knights were at a motorcycle club function in Toronto when a Satan's Choice member walked by.

"I looked at his jacket and he had the rocker on the back and the '1 per cent' patch," he said, referring to biker's outlaw status. "The members of our club like to say we're the other 99 per cent."

The Blue Knights is a motorcycle club made up of retired and active police officers. It's an international organization with 553 chapters and almost 19,000 members in 28 countries.

And now, it's come to the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Mr. Garland, who lives near Bancroft, is an avid motorcyclist and retired military police officer who has managed to obtain a charter to bring a Blue Knights chapter to the area.

Members of the group met in Fenelon Falls last Thursday, many of them riding in from Haliburton Highlands and Bracebridge.

"We are basically a social group, but we also fundraise for local charities," he explained. "I knew we needed at least 10 members to get a charter for a chapter here, so I put the word out. The response has been amazing. By July, we had 28 members, and we got the charter."

Mr. Garland said the Blue Knights are well known in larger cities, such as Toronto, where they often hold charity 'toy rides' for needy children.

"In the toy rides, anyone with a motorcycle can join in," he explained. "You bring your bike and a new, unwrapped toy and away you go."

Membership in the club is restricted, he said, to anyone with powers of arrest, such as police officers and prison guards, and they must have their own motorcycles. But the club's aim, aside from providing a social outlet for the members and their families, is also to promote a positive relationship between law enforcement and the public.

"One of our principal functions is fundraising for charity," said Mr. Garland.... Read the full story.

9/9/2005
Whittier police officers in Hog heaven - Whittier, CA
For decades, Whittier Police Department motorcycle officers drove Kawasakis, just like the bikes Jon and Ponch rode on the old TV show "CHiPs."

Last week, the department received two new Harley-Davidson police motorcycles, complete with creamy white trim and a logo on the air coolers that reads: "Harley-Davidson - Police."

"It's like seeing a '56 Corvette on the street," spokesman Alan dela Pena said of the new bikes' sporty look.

The bikes have the department's three traffic officers understandably excited over their added safety, increased comfort and attractiveness.

"We're getting a lot more attention now. People look at the bikes and they're intrigued, impressed," said traffic Officer Roger Argomaniz.

The bikes are customized with an anti-lock braking system so officers can come to quick stops without skidding or being thrown over the handlebars, Sgt. Dan Lowe said.

That feature, along with the high-output electrical system, is only offered on police models, which civilians can't purchase. They cost about $18,500, but Whittier police are leasing the vehicles.

The lighting system also is unique and state-of-the-art, said Lowe.

When the electric lights are switched on, a panoply of red and blue flashes brightens the front of the bike.

"The way the lighting system is set up is a lot safer for them because it helps motorists to see them," Lowe said.

Whittier is catching up with a trend running throughout the country: Ninety percent of police motorcycles in the country are Harleys. Los Angeles Police Department officers also are trying out these models, said Bob Laidlaw, owner of Laidlaw's Harley Davidson Sales in Baldwin Park, which leased the new motorcycles to the Whittier department.

"LAPD just bought 75 Harleys, and they're buying 110 more this year," he said.... Read the full story.

9/13/2005
Lynnwood officer injured in wreck on way to work - Lynnwood, WA
A Lynnwood police officer was injured on his way to work Monday morning when a car struck his motorcycle near Kirkland, the King County Sheriff's Office reported.

Stephen Showalter, 40, a member of the Lynnwood department for six years, broke his leg and wrist. His injuries aren't considered life threatening.

Showalter was driving a police motorcycle but he was not on a call, according to authorities.

"This is a scare to the police department family, and we are so thankful that he is in stable condition," said Shannon Sessions, a Lynnwood police spokeswoman.... Read the full story.

9/13/2005
Tempe motorcycle officer hurt in freeway mishap - Tempe, AZ
A Tempe police motorcycle officer was hospitalized Tuesday after he struck a vehicle from behind while checking out a possible traffic violation.

Officer Aaron Colombe, 32, who's part of the department's traffic bureau, was riding on the HOV lane of U.S. 60 when he struck from behind a vehicle that had slowed for traffic, police said. The accident happened in the westbound portion of the road, just past County Club Lane in Mesa.... Read the full story.

9/14/2005
Motorcycle officer struck on I-25 - Thornton, CO
A Thornton police motorcycle officer is in the hospital after getting struck by a driver on Interstate 25 Wednesday afternoon.

Both directions of the highway were closed after the accident at 88th.

Police spokesman Matt Barnes says the officer was parked with another motorcycle officer on the left shoulder of northbound I-25 doing traffic enforcement, when a driver attempting to avoid a rear-end collision clipped the back of a tractor-trailer. The force sent her crashing into the officer.... Read the full story.

9/14/2005
Motorcycle Officer Hit by Truck - Lynnwood, WA
A Lynnwood police officer on a motorcycle was injured Wednesday when a truck struck him and dragged him some 30 feet, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

The officer was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was being treated for a broken collarbone and a broken leg.

The truck was delivering wine to a drug store when it hit the officer on 196th Street in Lynnwood.

"He was caught up in the back wheel well of this truck as it turned right," said Shannon Sessions of the Lynnwood Police Department. "He wasn't run over, but he was caught up in the back wheel well."... Read the full story.

9/14/2005
Man with seizure crashes into Broward Government Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
A driver that police say was having a seizure lost control of his car and smashed the front windows of the Broward County Government Center in the downtown Wednesday afternoon.

There were no apparent injuries, but the unidentified driver was taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Officer H. Smith said the man "had apparently had a seizure." He described the driver as a man in his 30s.... Read the full story.

9/14/2005
Motorcycle Cop Crashes on US-60 - Tempe, AZ
An officer-involved accident occurred Tuesday morning on the US-60.

At around 7AM, Tempe police officer Aaron Colombe was riding his police motorcycle in the HOV lane, heading westbound. Just past Country Club Drive in Mesa, Officer Colombe moved to the right to check on a vehicle and struck the right rear of another vehicle, which was traveling westbound in the first lane. That vehicle had been slowing for traffic.

Officer Colombe, a six year veteran of the police department, was transported to Scottsdale Health Care by ground ambulance. Officer Colombe has a broken collar bone, a dislocated finger, and some road rash as a result of the collision.... Read the full story.

9/15/2005
Cocoa Beach Salutes 'I Dream of Jeannie' - Coca Beach, FL
...Despite being filmed in a Hollywood studio, the NBC show made regular nods to Cocoa Beach, which is on a narrow peninsula just south of the Kennedy Space Center. Nelson read the fictitious Cocoa Beach Herald newspaper. In one episode, a motorcycle cop with a prominent Cocoa Beach badge on his chest pulled over Jeannie for driving a car from the back seat.

Edwards Air Force Base, close to Los Angeles, was used sometimes as a stand-in for the Kennedy Space Center, and other California locales were used in place of Florida ones, said actor Bill Daily, who played Maj. Roger Healey on the show.

"It's pretty funny if you look at some of those old Jeannies, it's supposed to be shot in Cocoa Beach but in the background you have mountains — the Hollywood Hills," Daily said from New Mexico.... Read the full story.

9/15/2005
Lynnwood motorcycle officer hurt in wreck with truck - Lynnwood, WA
A Lynnwood police motorcycle officer broke his leg and collarbone when he collided with a delivery truck on Wednesday.

It was the second crash involving a Lynnwood motorcycle officer this week.

Officer Frazier Kennedy was traveling westbound on 196th Street SW about 8 a.m. when a delivery truck, going the same direction, turned right, witnesses told police.

Kennedy and his motorcycle were drug about 30 feet, according to police.

He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Police interviewed the truck driver, and the crash remains under investigation by Lynnwood police and the State Patrol.

Kennedy, 33, has been an officer with the department for more than five years. He's been part of the eight-person motorcycle unit for more than two years.... Read the full story.

9/19/2005
Berkley cops riding high with new bike - Berkley, MA
The latest project for some local contractors is building good will in the cash-strapped community.

Since June, the Police Department has had its own motorcycle, thanks in part to donations from local contractors.

The $1,800 the department needed for the first year of the lease on the 2005 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, along with the materials for a 14-foot by 16-foot garage for storing it, were recently donated by D&B Construction of Taunton, Malloch Construction, David Mendes Concrete, Skyline Roofing, J&R Precast and McCabe Sand and Gravel.

The motorcycle will be one of the "hogs" in the lead when the yearly "Kick Start for Kidneys" fund-raising ride begins from Taunton on Sunday.

Berkley Police Chief Scott Labonte said the cycle arrived in June and he and two officers, Patrolman Roger St. Laurent and Sgt. David Wilson, have completed a 40-hour motorcycle training course taught by the Taunton Police Department.... Read the full story.

9/19/2005
Commuters turning to motorcycles - San Jose, CA
...Mike Mount, a spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council in Irvine, said the trade group's latest numbers don't reflect sales from the summer, when motorists' angst and disgust over gas prices surged as world crude-oil prices soared and Hurricane Katrina ripped into oil and gasoline production on the Gulf Coast.

But Mount noted that sales of motorcycles have exploded in the past 13 years -- and, in the case of scooters, the past eight. Considering that much of the growth occurred when gasoline prices were low, Mount said, he wouldn't be surprised if the recent inflation at the pump propelled sales to new heights.

No one has done any motorcycle traffic surveys or compiled motorcycle-accident data in recent weeks, said Sgt. Steve Schriber, a veteran Bay Area motorcycle officer for the California Highway Patrol. But he said that ``there's been a huge increase in motorcycle traffic'' in recent years as people look for legal ways to use the car-pool lanes or avoid bridge tolls during commute hours. So Schriber also wouldn't be surprised if pump prices are causing motorcycle usage to increase even more during commute hours.... Read the full story.

9/20/2005
Man tries to run over motorcycle officer - Torrence, CA
Officers searched in Westchester on Monday for a man who tried to run over a motorcycle officer who pulled him over.

Police cordoned off an area near the 6900 block of La Tijera Boulevard at 1 p.m. when the man ran from a Toyota Tercel, Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon said.

The incident began in South Los Angeles when the motorcycle officer pulled the car over. The license plate matched a different car.

After the vehicle stopped, it suddenly backed up toward the officer.

"He jumped off his motorcycle and sustained injuries," Vernon said. "(The car) did collide with the motorcycle."

The officer was taken to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in West Los Angeles.

Although a new Los Angeles Police Department policy places restraints on when officers can shoot at moving vehicles, the officer in this case might have been within policy to fire, Vernon said.... Read the full story.

9/22/2005
City adds funds for motorcycle officer - San Dimas, CA
The City Council is adjusting the 2005-06 budget by $90,000 to add a motorcycle officer to the city's contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Mayor Curt Morris said the decision follows complaints by San Dimas residents who said people were speeding through their neighborhoods.

"My street has a bunch of kids,' Melissa Sosa said. "There's about 15 little kids who are always playing in their yards and in the street. I am worried because people drive way too fast.'

Morris said they decided to take action Sept. 13, soon after hearing the concerns.

"There has been much interest from the community to increase traffic patrol and we feel that by adding a motorcycle officer we can address the issue effectively,' Morris said.

San Dimas sheriff's Lt. Gary Kimble said the motorcycle officer will bring positive results.

"Their benefit is twofold: Motor officers can communicate better with the public because they are easier to approach and talk to and they respond to situations quicker than officers in a vehicle can,' he said... Read the full story.

9/22/2005
Motorcycle cop targets speeders - Belle Glade, FL
If while driving down the road at your "regular" speed you spot a motorcycle trailing you with lights and sirens blaring, then you most likely have played your part in helping Belle Glade's motorcycle officer put in another fine day at the job.

Just don't cringe when the man thanks you with praise that can only be expressed through a written citation.

For two months now, Officer James Dingle, with the Belle Glade Police Department, has been setting his sites on patrolling key areas of the city known for containing aggressive and unsafe drivers. The patrol is an effort to cut down on accidents that might occur with vehicles driving through the areas without caution.

According to Officer Dingle, the department had to put to rest its old bike, as it was no longer safe to keep it on the road in its condition, and started searching for a replacement. When a grant came up that paid for a new bike, the department jumped on it.

Now, the station has a shiny, new 2005 Harley Davidson Road King at its disposal. A pretty sight to behold to most, the bike most likely will not be welcomed by the drivers it will begin pulling over. One of the key components to the grant that has funded the motorcycle is the stipulation that the bike be used to target aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers are drivers who commit two moving violations at once, i.e., speeding while following too closely, etc.... Read the full story.

9/23/2005
CHP Investigating Crash That Killed Motorcycle Officer - Industry, CA
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer died Friday after a crash in Industry.

Officer David Romero's colleagues are investigating whether the driver of the car that struck the officer was under the influence of alcohol.

Romero, 47, was stopped at a red light in Industry when he was rear-ended by a car that then collided with another vehicle. The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard, said California Highway Patrol Officer Tomikia Johnson.

"He saw a car coming up, approaching from Turnbull without attempting to make any kind of a stop," said Penny Aguilar, whose father witnessed the crash.

Romero was airlifted to County-USC Medical Center, Johnson said. The 23-year veteran of the force is survived by his wife and five children.... Read the full story.

9/23/2005
CHP Officer Arnold Stants killed in off-duty accident - Alameda, CA
Arnold Stants, a longtime CHP officer who was committed to helping people and always had a smile on his face, died Saturday when his motorcycle collided with a car in an off-duty accident. He was 47.

"When you hear of a fellow officer motorcycle rider involved in an accident where he was killed, it takes you by surprise," said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Gary Cooper. "He was an excellent rider, and a great guy to work with. He put his all into it. He was very personable and very well-liked."

Born Dec. 1, 1957, in Oakland, Officer Stants moved to Vallejo shortly thereafter. He graduated from Hogan High in Vallejo in 1975. In high school, Mr. Stants was active with the ROTC and obtained the rank of lieutenant commander, family said.

After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force. He entered the highway patrol academy in Sacramento when he finished his tour.

For 20 years, Officer Stants was a CHP motorcycle officer in the Oakland station. He also trained new motorcycle officers. Family said he received the highest medal of honor from the state during the 1989 earthquake when he risked his life to save others.... Read the full story.

9/23/2005
Zero-tolerance day can be hectic for cops - Roseville, CA
...During Wednesday's zero-tolerance operation, MacDonald was parked in wait, along with several motorcycle units, coordinating with an officer working a traffic gun as motorists came down the hill on westbound Blue Oaks Boulevard in Roseville.

MacDonald, in her fifth year as a motorcycle officer, took a cruiser on this day to accommodate a Press-Tribune reporter who wanted to view the operation. The speed limit is 45 mph, and the fastest violator was clocked at 73 mph.... Read the full story.

9/24/2005
CHP officer killed in crash: S.F.S. veteran's motorcycle hit at intersection - Industry, CA
A 23-year California Highway Patrol veteran, who was a married father of five, was killed Friday after a speeding motorist slammed into the back of his police motorcycle, causing the officer to carom across an intersection and suffer fatal injuries, authorities said. Dave Romero, 47, of the CHP's Santa Fe Springs office was pronounced dead at 10:44 a.m. at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the CHP.

CHP officials believe the driver of a blue early-1970s Chevrolet Monte Carlo was intoxicated when, about 9:50 a.m., he slammed his vehicle into Romero's motorcycle while Romero was waiting at a red light on Turnbull Canyon Road in Industry.

Romero was a hard-working family man who liked to get home as soon as he was off duty to go be with his wife and children, officers said.

''There are 109 officers assigned to this office now, but hundreds have come through in the 23 years Romero was here, and he was a part of all their lives,'' CHP officer John Escobedo said. ''It's always a cliche to say he was the best guy, but in this case it is true.''

For officers at the CHP's Santa Fe Springs office, the death was particularly bitter. Last year, CHP Officer Thomas Steiner, who worked at the same office and lived in Long Beach, was gunned down outside a Pomona Court by a 16-year-old who later confessed he killed the officer to impress a local street gang.

Flags at the station were lowered to half-staff Friday, and officers wore black ribbons across their badges. Escobedo said Romero was waiting to turn left onto Valley Boulevard when he noticed a blue Monte Carlo speeding toward him from behind.

To get the car to slow down, Romero turned on his lights and made a downward motion with his hands, Escobedo said.

Instead, the car slammed into the motorcycle and the two vehicles traveled across the intersection, where the Monte Carlo was struck by silver compact car heading east on Valley, Escobedo said.

Romero and his motorcycle, along with the Monte Carlo, ended up near railroad tracks just north of Valley Boulevard.... Read the full story.

9/25/2005
Valley officers upgrade to BMWs motorcycles - Scottsdale, AZ
The Department of Public Safety and Scottsdale police are going upscale with new B-M-W motorcycles.

While the B-M-W bikes might seem extravagant, the police agencies say their flashy new rides will help bring them into the 21st century.

Known for its high-performance luxury sports cars, B-M-W is also a leading patrol motorcycle contractor for U-S police departments.

D-P-S will buy about 35 B-M-W R-T 1150P models by next summer. Scottsdale police expect to add 18 bikes.

Phoenix police are also considering similar upgrades to its motorcycle fleet.

The agencies are swapping out their durable Kawasakis after the company stopped building police motorcycles.... Read the full story.

9/25/2005
Police hit drug dealers where it hurts - Picayune, MS
The City of Picayune Police Dept. is known for its strong drug enforcement through the Three Phase Drug Offensive, which began in December of 2003 and continues to this day.

The officers of the Picayune Police Dept. work extremely well in the area of drug enforcement. The department is nationally and internationally recognized for its Three Phase Drug Offensive, an initiative that is very successful in the City of Picayune and the Greater Picayune Area.

The police department over the past 36 months has seized approximately $110,000 in vehicles and property. Additionally, the police department has obtained approximately $92,000 in cash in restitutions, forfeitures and seizures in drug violation cases over the past three years.

The City of Picayune and the citizens alike have benefited from the ability to assign the seized vehicles to city use in several departments such as the Fire Department, Streets Department and Police Department. The use of the seized vehicles has resulted in saving the city approximately $60,000 in vehicle costs.

Also, the police department is utilizing three seized vehicles and has purchased, over the past three years, four new patrol cars fully equipped at a cost of $120,000 and a police motorcycle fully equipped at a cost of $20,000, all from money provided by drug forfeitures, seizures and restitutions. This strong drug enforcement effort is saving the city tax dollars and hurting the drug dealers where it hurts the most, in their pocket books.

The money and/or property seized, forfeited or obtained through restitution from the Pearl River County Circuit Court continues to help support the drug enforcement efforts of the Picayune Police Dept.... Read the full story.

9/25/2005
Driver jailed in death of veteran CHP officer - City of Industry, CA
A 26-year-old man is behind bars on suspicion of murder in the death of a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer who was struck and killed at a red light in the City of Industry.

Rudy Lopez Saldana is being held in lieu of one (m) million dollars bail in the death of 47-year-old David Romero, a veteran C-H-P officer and married father of five.

Police say Saldana was driving a car that struck Romero from behind Friday morning at the intersection of Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard.... Read the full story.

9/26/2005
DPS to get new motorcycles for Highway Patrol - Tucson, AZ
The Department of Public Safety plans to buy approximately 35 BMW 1150P models by next summer, a leading patrol motorcycle maker for U.S. police agencies.

DPS, like the Scottsdale Police Department, plans to swap out its Kawasaki police motorcycles because that company has stopped building police motorcycles.

At $18,000 per bike, BMW was the next-best choice, both for updated technology and cost, officials said.

"The BMW is a beautiful piece of equipment, and it's going to be fun for us to ride," said Lt. Tim Lane, a district commander for the DPS motorcycle program. "We bought the safest motorcycle on the market."... Read the full story.

9/26/2005
Officer struck by automobile - Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto Police Agent Dave Flohr’s motorcycle collided with a car in the intersection of Middlefield Road and Montrose Avenue shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Flohr was taken to Stanford Hospital where he reportedly has broken ribs and possibly a broken leg, said Agent Dan Ryan.

“He’s going to be OK,” Ryan added.

From the position of Flohr’s wrecked motorcycle and a gray Ford Focus with a badly crumpled left front fender, it appeared that the car was crossing Middlefield Road and Flohr was traveling south on Middlefield.

The blue and red lights on the motorcycle were flashing as it lay on its side.

The intersection is also the main entrance to the Cubberley Community Center.

Ryan said Flohr was one of the first to become a motorcycle officer when the Palo Alto Police Department reintroduced them about 10 years ago. Flohr is also the department’s motorcycle training officer.... Read the full story.

9/27/2005
Officers welcome switch to Harleys - Prattville, AL
For three Prattville police officers, trading in their patrol cars for Harley Davidson motorcycles has been the way to go.

The Prattville Police Department had six officers apply for motorcycle training. After a month of training, three officers have made the cut. The department has 10 motor officers now -- almost full staff following a spate of retirements and injuries.

"We have 11 motors, but due to the hiring freeze, we can't get a full complement," said Chief Alfred Wadsworth. "Hopefully, we will be able to get that officer with the new budget."

The motorcycle patrolmen are taking on more responsibility.

With the rise of gasoline costs, the bikes have extended patrol duties. The big Harleys get much better gas mileage than the Ford and Chevrolet patrols cars the department uses, the chief said.

The unit was formed about 10 years ago to enforce traffic laws and work accidents. They have become the department's best public relations tool, Wadsworth said.... Read the full story.

9/27/2005
Motorcycle officer is recovering - Palo Alto, CA
Dave Flohr, the Palo Alto police agent injured in a crash of his motorcycle Monday afternoon, is in “much better condition and looks like he’ll be just fine,” Sgt. John Costa said Tuesday morning.

Flohr suffered three or four broken ribs, a bruised lung and a broken wrist, Agent Dan Ryan reported.

“He’s sitting up and talking but sore everywhere,” Ryan said.

Flohr was driving north on Middlefield Road at Montrose Avenue shortly before 4:30 p.m. when his cycle collided with a car making a turn through the intersection. The woman driving the car received minor injuries.

Costa said there is no update on which driver may have been at fault in the collision. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash at the request of the Palo Alto Police Department because a Palo Alto officer was involved.... Read the full story.

9/28/2005
Funeral Held For CHP Officer Killed In Line Of Duty - Downey, CA
Funeral services are being held in Downey for a CHP officer killed in the line of duty last week.

Dave Romero was killed Friday when his service motorcycle was rear-ended by an allegedly drunken driver.

Romero spent 23 years with the CHP, the last 20 as a motorcycle officer. He is survived by his wife and five children.... Read the full story.

9/28/2005
OKC Motorcycle Officer Injured In Collision - Oklahoma City, OK
An Oklahoma City motorcycle police officer is recovering after his motorcycle was hit by a car Wednesday.

Police said the driver of the car made a left-hand turn in front of the police motorcycle shortly after 8 a.m. The officer wasn't seriously injured but was taken to a local hospital for treatment.... Read the full story.

9/29/2005
Family, colleagues bury CHP Officer Romero: Governor, thousands attend funeral for 23-year veteran - Downey, CA
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined about 1,000 law enforcement officers at funeral services Wednesday for California Highway Patrol motorcycle Officer David Romero, who was killed last week by an allegedly drunken driver.

Schwarzenegger arrived in a black sports utility vehicle at Calvary Chapel in Downey, joined by a stream of motorcycle officers from as far away as Sacramento, Bakersfield and Palm Springs, and Romero's family and friends.

"We are here to show our respect and our unity with a fallen brother," Whittier Police Department Officer Keith Boyer said outside the church, which reporters were barred from entering at the request of Romero's family. "It's for all of us a sad day that brings home the reality of how dangerous our jobs are."

The 47-year-old Romero, a father of five and a 23-year CHP veteran, had worked for nearly his entire career at the agency's Santa Fe Springs office. He was killed Friday, after a driver in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo slammed the car into the rear of Romero's motorcycle as the officer sat waiting at a red light on Turnbull Canyon Road in Industry.... Read the full story.

9/30/2005
Driver in CHP crash had prior DUI - Whittier, CA
Whittier Court records reveal that Rudy Lopez, the accused killer of California Highway Patrol motor officer David Romero, had a string of arrests and convictions dating back seven years and was driving on probation for a misdemeanor driving-under-the-influence conviction when he allegedly rammed his car into Officer Romero's motorcycle last Friday.

Lopez, 26, of Whittier faces arraignment Oct. 28 on charges of manslaughter while intoxicated and murder, which could result in a life sentence for him if he is convicted, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

An examination of Whittier Court documents reveals the following cases:

- Lopez first entered the local court system at the age of 19, when he was fined and given 24 months' probation for several misdemeanors.

- That same year, he violated probation several times and was sentenced to four months in Los Angeles County Jail after being convicted again of being under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug paraphernalia.

- He was convicted of possessing marijuana in December, 2002. He completed a drug program in lieu of other penalties.

- In November 2003 he was convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Tests showed he had nearly twice the legal blood-alcohol limit at the time of the arrest. He was given three years' probation and a fine and was ordered into a three-month drug and alcohol counseling program.

Then came 9:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23.

CHO officer David Romero, 47, was stopped at a red light at Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard in Industry. Reports said the officer saw the car bearing down on him and tried to wave off the driver. The car never stopped, said witnesses.

The officer was airlifted to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.... Read the full story.