LEO - Setting a Bad Example

[hppants]

My son is taking driver's ed now, bringing a whole new meaning to the word "worry" for SOQS and myself.  On a good note, now on the way to school, we have something else to talk about - driver safety.

This morning, we are behind two Louisiana State Troopers on motorcycles.  Right off the bat, my son, who has been exposed to driving all of 3 days, points out:

1.  They are not wearing full face helmets.  BTW - what's up with that?

2.  They are not riding in staggered formation, but side by side instead.

3.  They are not using their turn signals.

4.  One of them has a burnt tail light (presumably no pre-trip inspection).

I told the kid I was proud of him.

[Tryvelcro]

Where is the "like" button when I need it?

Guess I will go with 

[TDodge7]

Police don't have to abide by the same laws that normal people do , I thought everyone knew that  .

[Burgi]

Did they have on short sleeve shirts? Ours usually do.
I knew I liked that kid of yours, Pants. It's the ones that don't smile that you gotta look out for.   

[NicholasDM]

My son is taking driver's ed now, bringing a whole new meaning to the word "worry" for SOQS and myself.  On a good note, now on the way to school, we have something else to talk about - driver safety.

This morning, we are behind two Louisiana State Troopers on motorcycles.  Right off the bat, my son, who has been exposed to driving all of 3 days, points out:

1.  They are not wearing full face helmets.  BTW - what's up with that?

2.  They are not riding in staggered formation, but side by side instead.

3.  They are not using their turn signals.

4.  One of them has a burnt tail light (presumably no pre-trip inspection).

I told the kid I was proud of him.

Sharp kid. Be sure to let him know that motorcycle cops are some of the worst riders on the road (but respect them the same as any officer, and fellow rider!). CHP is atrocious. In the past 9 months or so I've almost been hit, almost had a bike dropped on my car, almost had a bike dropped in front of my car and saw a CHP rider almost check out by someone crossing double yellows into the car pool lane (good thing those STs have ABS!); no action taken against the cager! All near-incidents caused by the rider having inadequate vehicle control or understanding.

I don't care what they can do at 5mph in an exhibition obstacle course to show off their mad skills, but they are BAD riders when out on the road. Tailgating, riding in obvious blind spots, no turn signals, cutting people off, stiff and unreacting body position, the list goes on.

Sorry to anybody who disagrees. The above is strictly my opinion (and shared by my partner) based on experience and incidents whitnessed and is surely not to encompass every mounted police officer out there. I'm there are one or two that ride well, somewhere.


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[SliverXZennon]

2.  They are not riding in staggered formation, but side by side instead.

This one is for increased visibility. In training they are taught to ride side by side to simulate a cage. Only know that because my friend just took the OH-PMC Test.

[Moustache]

Please define SOQS....
I have seen it alot.

Thanks

[gammer]

Please define SOQS....

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,6304.msg80405.html#msg80405 

[gammer]

If only they would have been wearing shorts and flip-flops...then they would have looked *really* cool.   

[SliverXZennon]

If only they would have been wearing shorts and flip-flops...then they would have looked *really* cool.   

Could those be steel toed flip-flops?

[NicholasDM]

If only they would have been wearing shorts and flip-flops...then they would have looked *really* cool.   

Could those be steel toed flip-flops?

That sounds even more impressive than the CE approved Sunscreen the squids all run around with. ;)

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[Bumblebee]

Police don't have to abide by the same laws that normal people do , I thought everyone knew that  .

Physics doesn't give a damned about cute paper laws stuck in a filing cabinet somewhere. It has it's own set of rules and is severely draconian about their use at all times.

If only they would have been wearing shorts and flip-flops...then they would have looked *really* cool.

The typical police uniform pants they wear is the same as shorts in the 4-grit belt sander rating system. The shirt is no better..though the bullet proof vest has distinct advantages. I wonder how that stuff handles severe abrasion and if the material is prohibitively spendy?

[gammer]

If only they would have been wearing shorts and flip-flops...then they would have looked *really* cool.   

Could those be steel toed flip-flops?

That sounds even more impressive than the CE approved Sunscreen the squids all run around with. ;)

*Not a joke*

[Bumblebee]

*Not a joke*

Interesting. The protected areas on those are almost a perfect map of the areas on my boots that did NOT have scratches and dirt from my crash.

[hppants]

Sharp kid.

Really is - he's paying attention in class, no doubt.  When I asked him why staggered formation is important, he got it right.  I'm surprised they talked about this in "Cage Driver's Ed", but then later found out that the instructor is also a biker (apparently ATGATT from what I gather) and wanted to share some motorcycle safety.

No, depending on the next report card, we'll see if he actually gets his learners permit, or get stuck in perpetual driver's ed.     Smart doesn't always equate to grades.  Hopefully, carrot will move the donkey.   

Regarding the LEO's gear, as Mr. Bee points, the pants they were wearing looked like simple uniform cotton.  They did have some protective looking knee high boots, and a leather jacket (without armor I'm afraid).  But what I can't understand is why don't they wear a F/F helmet?  Down here, none of the LEO bikers wear a F/F helmet.  Of all people, I'm sure that they understand its importance.

[drdubb]

Interesting piece of research is that the most visible thing a biker can do, is to dress himself and his bike to look like a mc officer. I've been thinking about putting two big blue dots on my Streetshield and getting a white helmet, and reflector sun glasses.

[SliverXZennon]

Interesting piece of research is that the most visible thing a biker can do, is to dress himself and his bike to look like a mc officer. I've been thinking about putting two big blue dots on my Streetshield and getting a white helmet, and reflector sun glasses.

Sorry, drdubb, had to.. 

[Bumblebee]

Interesting piece of research is that the most visible thing a biker can do, is to dress himself and his bike to look like a mc officer. I've been thinking about putting two big blue dots on my Streetshield and getting a white helmet, and reflector sun glasses.

It's interested how they fear tickets to no end yet don't mind killing someone otherwise.

If you want to get head to head cagers to notice you, get a headlight modulator. Cagers will pull off the road to get out of your way. Or at least that was the experience I had riding behind a guy that had one installed.

[happycommuter]

But what I can't understand is why don't they wear a F/F helmet?  Down here, none of the LEO bikers wear a F/F helmet.

They keep them on during stops.  The average rube thinks people in full face helmets are robots or aliens and freak out...

Seriously, it's a public relations move so that their faces are visible and people can hear them speak.  Apparently they are in some time warp where modular helmets do not exist.  Also, mesh and armor, non-equestrian riding boots.

[gammer]

I think I'm embarrassed to say it, but my love of motorcycles might have come from these guys (and please note their bikes are not Hardly Able-son's, but Kawi's  )
And to keep this on topic, check out the gear.

[bajakirch]

I long ago gave up defending the actions of other cops. Any way you slice it, there are going to be bad apples in the bunch. But I do feel obligated to address some of the points made above, based on my knowledge of law enforcement as well as knowing many motor officers (including several that have been through the HD motor office training academy).

1.  They are not wearing full face helmets.  BTW - what's up with that?

HC got most of it -- police officers are constantly interacting with the public, and that goes for motor officers as well. A FF helmet isn't practical in a role where you're talking to people a lot. Yes, modular helmets could solve some of this, but that often-times boils down to cost. The 3/4 helmets you see most motor cops wearing are a lot less expensive than modular helmets. Plus, you still have people debate whether modulars are effective. IIRC, there's a major safety rating agency that has yet to approve any modular helmet. The other issue is that cops need to be able to talk on their radios. Yes, you can get helmets, both FF and modular, that have radio communications built in, but once again you run into the cost issue. A cop wearing a 3/4 helmet can use pretty much any standard police radio without too much hassle.

2.  They are not riding in staggered formation, but side by side instead.

The cops I know that ride on duty are split about 50/50 on this. I believe the motor academy teaches it both ways and lets the individual officer or department policy decide. As we all know, riding staggered gives you more room for evasive maneuvering. But it also puts one officer out of view of the other much of the time. For officers that work as 2-rider teams, they're supposed to be aware of their fellow officers' status at all times. That's why you'll see many of them ride side-by-side. It also allows them to communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, without using their radios. I haven't heard about the visibility thing, but I guess that could make sense too.

3.  They are not using their turn signals.

Hard to justify this one. I'll chalk that one up to laziness, and you'll see it with officers driving squad cars as well.

4.  One of them has a burnt tail light (presumably no pre-trip inspection).

I suspect your hypothesis is correct. I suppose it could have burnt out during the shift, but more likely someone was a bit hasty or careless in the pre-shift inspection.

As for other protective gear, much of that could be due to personal preference or (once again) budgetary constraints. But there is a tactical issue as well. Cops have to be mobile and be able to move around freely. Someone that's armored up like a Moto-GT competitor may not have the flexibility and range of motion to easily draw a weapon, handcuff a subject, etc. So compromises in the area of personal safety may be made by some officers in the interest of being able to most effectively do their jobs.

At least that's my $.02.

[hppants]

Baja - thanks for your info.  I certainly respect you and all LEO, both your position and your authority.  I have to work with many of them in my own professional life.

I'm curious - are motorcycle LEO's given a choice in helmets?  If I became a motorcycle cop, and was adamant about using a modular helmet, could I choose that instead of the shaving sink?

[bajakirch]

Some do, some don't; depends on departmental policy.

Most of the guys I know do it as a special duty rather than as their day-to-day job. And around here, no one does it year-round, obviously. For those guys, the deparment might purchase basic equipment (3/4 helmet, riding boots, leather jacket, gloves), but the officer can upgrade on his own or out of his uniform allowance. I know of one guy that did that to purchase a modular helmet with internal radio communications. I think the helmet ran around $600.

[mattrowe19]

Most of the MC officers I see in in Portland, city county and state, wear modular helmets as well as textile jackets. Well, the jackets when it's not too hot. They also appear to be wearing MC specific boots vs. the horse boots. Oregon at least appears to have caught up with modern riding gear.

[bajakirch]

Most of the MC officers I see in in Portland, city county and state, wear modular helmets as well as textile jackets. Well, the jackets when it's not too hot. They also appear to be wearing MC specific boots vs. the horse boots. Oregon at least appears to have caught up with modern riding gear.

I think what you might have going there could be climate-dicated. Around here just about every motor cop I know wears a leather jacket. But out by you, where there might be a greater chance of them operating in the rain, waterproof textile would be the wise choice.