Question to motor officers about riding experience

[Welpe]

I've been thinking some about longer term career goals. Lately the idea of working as a motor officer has been sounding kind of appealing.

How much riding experience is necessary to become a motor officer? I'm not a motorcycle rider and haven't really been interested in riding at all. Except as an officer and that's just recent.

Lastly, I know my first concern is to get hired and pay my dues as a patrol officer but I thought this would make a good discussion piece and something different rather than another question about how one gets into SWAT.

[cal911gal]

Not being an officer, I can't speak from experience......but I'll tell you this much. Our mc training at the Academy is some of the toughest in the nation. I've known quite a few people who had excellent motor skills, who washed out of our motor school the first time out.

If you are seriously thinking about it, get your road time in for a few years, and during your off duty time, learn to ride well....then seek out the advice and help from a few motor units. Practice like a madman with them on skills and drills. You might do ok.

Best of luck to ya!

[Tom]

welpe,

There is no requirement for riding experience necessary. You must have an M1 license by the time you finish the class (preferably before) so you have to ride a little. Not much though, the DMV test is a walk in the park. The motorcycle training at the Academy, however, is a misnomer. It really isn't training, it's see this - now do it. So you have to practice prior to your training date. It is very common for guys to practice with a old bike with guys at the office before and after shift. I practiced HARD for 6 months prior to my date in the rain and sleet and you name it. My prior street riding experience was basically none when I went to the training.

Tom

[TheForceCHP]

great topic!!!

i got a bike almost a year ago so that i could start riding. if you by a bike ahead of times i recommend a Suzuki SV650s. it is a great bike to start on and has enough power that you aren't left wanting more. Take an MSF course and do everything like you are supposed to. From what i hear plenty of good riders go to become Motor officers and they can't pass because of bad habits that they have, that is why i am trying to make sure that i don't develop any.

[PharmGirl]

So Tom, OR other Motors
What is it about riding and being a Motor (as I wife I just don't get it)? Obviously you enjoy it. Do you recruit other officers to become motors?
Is there really any stats that show being a motor is 'more' dangerous?
Can you get "ahead of the line" when it comes to transfers if you are a motor? or are there any other benefits to it?

oh and I am have been cracking up at your new avator...I actually can't look at it anymore it just makes me laugh LOL!
Thanks

[Tom]

Yes my avatar is in honor of YM's new avatar. He did his mug shot so I did my mug shot.

There are no "transfer" privileges as a motor. There are financial benefits (motor pay and commute) and burdens (motor boots and uniforms are more expensive). Whille I don't have any hard data I would say "per capita" that motors are injured far more than car cops. Just speculation however. If and when (yes I said when) we crash it is usually much more injurious. Nice word huh?.


Usually there is no official recruitment, there are guys and gals that want to do it and therefore make the attempt. I said attempt becasue the washout rate hovers at 60-70 percent.

Tom

[Welpe]

911 gal and Tom, thanks for the advice. That's just what I was looking for.

Ok back to worry about the hiring process. :shock:

[Mac]

Not only are there no "transfer privileges" - if you transfer to a new Area, there's no guarantee you'll even get to stay on a motor....it all depends on whether your new Area has a riding slot available. Also, not every office in the state has motors, it's mostly the large urban areas - so if you transfer to an office that doesn't have motors, your bike doesn't go with you.

As Tom said, the washout rate at motor school is very, very high....I know a few guys who have gone up two or three times and still haven't made it. Once you're an officer, the best way to prepare for motor school is to buy a "runout" bike (one that's been retired from the fleet and is for sale to the public), get ahold of the motorcycle training manual, and do cone patterns until you're ready to puke.....then do them some more. Practice with the motor officers in your Area and have them critique you and give you tips. Go to the Area motor training days (if your Area will let you) and ride the cone patterns with the other motors. All of the above still doesn't guarantee you'll pass motor school, but it certainly increases the odds. As I've heard from several motors - "Motor school isn't a 'school', it's a test". You should already know the cone patterns and have the skills before you go up there. Civilian riding skills (i.e. from a MSF course or whatever) won't cut it - enforcement riding is very specialized. I've been riding dirt bikes since I was 12 years old (ride both off-road and observed trials), have my M1 license and consider myself a fairly decent rider....but there's not a doubt in my mind that if I went up to motor school with nothing more than my current skillset, I'd be coming home within the first week. As cal911gal said, our motor training is some of the toughest in the nation.

Like Tom, I don't have any hard stats....but here's my take: Motor cops tend to crash less often, but when they DO, the injuries are more severe. There are a lot of non-injury patrol car crashes, but you don't often see an 11-82 on a motor.

With all that said, here are my pros and cons for riding a motor on-duty (keep in mind that I have never ridden as a Department motor officer):

PROS:
Faster response times than car cops (can easily split traffic)
Free transportation to and from home/court.
Motor pay
Higher uniform allowance (which still doesn't adequately cover your costs, though)
The 'mystique' - hey, you're a Motor! Tall shiny black boots, tight breetches, "the walk", and the image of being a motor cop. :smile:

CONS:
If you're in an Area that has seasons, you burn up in the summer and freeze in the winter (and early spring, and late fall...).
No push bumpers - can't clear crash scenes.
No way to transport prisoners - have to call for a car cop.
Can't work graveyard shift (not an issue if you're not a graveyard kinda guy.)
Chance of greater injuries when you crash - not enough metal around you.

When you take everything into consideration, it's a pretty cool gig....IF it's what you want to do.

[propeller26]

Being a motor is one of the best jobs that the dept. offers. Once you are lucky enough to get through motor school, it really is that hard, the fun really begins. While on motor break-in, you will get to do a lot of different riding and see a bunch of neat areas, some outside of your division. Once you start riding on a daily basis on your beat, you will never want to get back into a car. The job is totally different and there is much more freedom on the bike, not to mention the commute factor. Also, the friendships that you form with the other riders in your office will last a lifetime. Like I said before, the bike is one of the best jobs that dept offers. Although I am currently a pilot for the dept. I miss my bike daily, and have thought long and hard about going back. Just two cents from a former motor rider.