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The
Moose Jaw Police Service used a police motorcycle in the early and mid
1900’s. Sgt Robert Bell rode the last motorcycle, in 1963, used primarily
for summons delivery and leading parades. It was
a Harley Davidson 45 with a suicide shift. It was called suicide shift
because the left hand had to let go of the handlebars to manually change
gears, leaving only the right hand to control the motorcycle.
After
close to 40 years, the Moose Jaw Police Service decided to purchase
another motorcycle. As the Saskatchewan Police Act dictates that law
enforcement vehicles have a manufacturers police package, we were limited
in our selection. Only two companies build a police package
motorcycle - Harley Davidson and BMW.
The
closest BMW dealer is in Winnipeg but there are several Harley Davidson
dealers in Saskatchewan. The
Harley Davidson dealer in Regina offered the best deal for a price that,
including the emergency equipment and radar, was well below what a
civilian would pay for
the same model. There was even a guaranteed buy back price which
made the deal even better. Early in 2002 the Moose Jaw Police Service
ordered a FLHR Road King Harley Davidson motorcycle that arrived on August
1, 2002. Our order had been placed early in the year to make it fourth off
the assembly line for the 2003 edition Harley Davidson 100th anniversary.
For the
first three months of service, only
Sgt. Terry Phillips operated the motorcycle with the primary function
being enforcement. There was enough revenue in those three months to
return the money spent on the purchase of the motorcycle and emergency
equipment.
In 2003
the motorcycle was assigned to the Traffic Safety Unit. Three members of
the Unit received training for safe handling of the motorcycle in the
spring with another two trained in the fall.
Since
being assigned to the Traffic Safety Unit the motorcycle has been used for
other events that include:
Escort
for three Toy Run parades organized
by
motorcycle enthusiasts
Escort
for the Home from Canada Run from
Moose Jaw to Regina that was part of the
Harley Davidson 100th
anniversary
A
Sunday display at Besant
Campground
The
Show and Shine event at the
Western
Development Museum
Static
display for the Saskatchewan Safety
Council
Motorcycle Training
fundraiser supper
This
motorcycle has also proven to be a useful tool when assisting Patrol Unit
members for some investigations as it can go where a car cannot. The only
limitations to the motorcycle are inclement weather and the inability to
transport prisoners.
Cpl.
Dennis Wilson (retired)
Moose Jaw Police Service
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