/ S.O.P / Eff. Date: 10-31-01

Number: 6.32

Title: Motorcycle Patrol Unit

Issuing Authority: L.E. Nippins, III, PSD/CLEO / Eval. Date: 7-31-03
Accreditation 41 Patrol
Accreditation Standards: 41.1.4a-g
Revision Date / Page Numbers / Sections / Approved

SUBJECT: Motorcycle Patrol Unit

6.32 (6 pgs)

I. Purpose

The purpose of this General Order is to provide guidelines for members of the department in the administration, and utilization of the department’s Motorcycle Patrol Unit.

II. Policy

It will be the policy of the department to maintain and utilize the Motorcycle Patrol Unit in patrol operations to supplement conventional patrol methods. However, the unit will concentrate more on serving as a highly visible deterrent to criminal activity in parks, playgrounds, school zones, and residential areas than as an aggressive enforcement tool. The unit will regularly participate in community policing activities and may be used for other purposes at the discretion of the Director of Public Safety/Chief Law Enforcement Officer (PSD/CLEO).

III.Procedure

A. Administration

1. The Motorcycle Patrol Unit is a unit within the Patrol Bureau and as such responsibility for its proper administration and operation will rest with the Operations Commander. The Field Support Services Sergeant will serve as the unit supervisor. The unit supervisor may have limited operational supervisory responsibility but will be responsible for scheduling, training, equipment, and logistical issues affecting the unit and the maintenance of unit records.

a. It is not necessary that the unit supervisor be motorcycle qualified.

2. When serving in a patrol capacity the unit will be directly responsible to the duty supervisor. During those periods the unit will perform the same functions as any other patrol unit unless specifically prohibited by this SOP.

3. When serving in a community policing capacity the unit will be under the direct supervision of the Community Affairs Bureau. At events where the bureau supervisor is not present the unit will be directly responsible to the on-scene or duty supervisor. In the absence of direct supervision the assumption of responsibility for the conduct and performance of members of the unit and department shall be in accordance with the provisions of SOP 1.01 “Organization”, regarding the Chain of Command, Command Structure, and Command Protocol.

B. Staffing/Selection

  1. Officers who wish to be considered for assignment to the Motorcycle Patrol Unit must have expressed and demonstrated an interest in the program. Officers will be advised of openings in the unit in the following manner:

a. Notification of patrol sergeants for announcement at shift briefings.

b. Posting on bulletin board in squad room.

  1. Requests for assignment to the unit must be made in writing to the Operations Commander via the chain of command. The Operations Commander, unit supervisor, and Community Affairs Bureau supervisor will review each application. Final approval for assignment will rest with the Operations Commander.
  1. In order to be considered for assignment officers must;
  1. be a full-time sworn officer at the time of assignment.
  2. have completed three (3) years of continuous service with the department.
  • time accumulated as a Class II Special Officer, prior to a full-time appointment, may be considered at the discretion of the PSD/CLEO.
  1. have had a valid NJ motorcycle operators’ license for a period of at least one-year prior to the date of assignment. (This requirement will be waived for one year from the date of the unit’s inception.)
  • No one will be considered who has action pending against their license, nor will anyone be considered who has an extensive negative driver history.
  1. have demonstrated the physical ability to properly and safely handle and operate department motorcycles.
  • In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act reasonable, but not extraordinary, accommodations will be made as necessary and appropriate.
  1. Officers who are selected for assignment to the unit and become certified in police motorcycle operations will be required to commit to the unit for a minimum of three (3) years. The three (3) years will commence on January 1, of the year following the officer’s initial certification. This commitment is required due to the expense associated with the training and equipping of the officer.

C. Training

  1. Officers assigned to the Motorcycle Patrol Unit must successfully complete an approved training program specific to the operational use of police motorcycles conducted by a recognized law enforcement authority. The Training Officer will be responsible for maintaining records on this training as well as other training received by members of the unit specific to the operation and use of police motorcycles.
  1. Under no circumstances is anyone who has not completed this training to operate a department motorcycle as part of a patrol or community policing function.
  2. The supervisor responsible for the unit at the time of an event or assignment may authorize an officer, who possesses a valid NJ motorcycle operators license, to operate a department motorcycle for the sole purpose of returning it to police headquarters, or another authorized location, when an unexpected circumstance or situation prevents a certified officer from doing so.
  • This exception is for emergencies only and does not apply to operating a motorcycle for the purpose of delivering it to, or returning it from a maintenance or repair facility. A certified officer must be assigned to perform this function.
  1. In the event that neither a certified or licensed officer is available and a motorcycle must be moved an approved towing service is to be contacted.
  • The unit supervisor will provide supervisors with a list of towing services approved to tow department motorcycles.

D. Patrol Operations

  1. The duty supervisor may assign a certified officer to motorcycle patrol anytime manpower permits, or in response to a specific event, incident, situation, or condition, and will make such an assignment when so directed by higher authority.
  1. Unless specifically authorized by the Operations Commander motorcycle patrol will only be conducted during daylight hours.
  2. Supervisors must exercise sound judgement in making assignments during periods of inclement weather.
  1. Motorcycle officers are to be assigned to conduct high visibility patrols in parks, playgrounds, school zones, and residential areas and are not to be assigned to major or high volume roadways for traffic enforcement purposes unless specifically authorized by the Operations Commander.
  1. Motor vehicle enforcement activity is to be limited to secondary and residential streets, parks, playgrounds, and school zones.
  1. Motorcycle officers are not to initiate or participate in a vehicular pursuit as defined in SOP 6.11 “Vehicle Pursuits” unless the occupants or operation of the vehicle poses an imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm and there is no other means available to avert or eliminate the danger. Supervisors must be especially aware of the increased risks associated with a motorcycle engaged in a pursuit and make evaluations and decisions quickly and accordingly.
  1. If a motorcycle officer initiates or otherwise participates in a pursuit, primary or secondary status must be relinquished to a conventionally marked vehicle, as defined in SOP 6.11, as soon as possible.
  1. Motorcycle officers may respond and handle any calls for police services that would generally be assigned to a uniformed patrol officer. They may be assigned to conduct motor vehicle accident and criminal investigations and to take reports. If a motorcycle officer makes an arrest the supervisor will, without unreasonable delay, assign another officer to transport the arrestee to police headquarters. The motorcycle officer will then respond to police headquarters to process the arrest as soon as is practical.
  1. Motorcycle officers are not to respond to any call in “Alpha” mode without supervisory approval.

E. Community Policing Operations

1. All requests for the unit to participate in community policing activities are to be submitted in writing to the Motorcycle Patrol Unit supervisor. The unit will generally be assigned to participate in parades, funeral escorts, community day activities, as a supplement to the D.A.R.E. and Adopt-a-Cop Programs, and for other community policing activities in this as well as other communities.

  1. Upon receipt the unit supervisor will review the request with the Community Affairs Bureau supervisor and upon approval schedule the unit to participate. The unit supervisor will also advise the Operations Commander of the date, time, location, and type of assignment.
  2. Should a member of the unit wish to be activated to attend a police funeral or some other type of police function or activity not requested by someone outside the department, the request must be submitted by the member as described above.

2. Whenever the unit is activated to participate in a community policing event, while the officers are on-duty but not assigned to motorcycle patrol, the officers will be afforded a reasonable amount of time, prior to the scheduled start of the event, to prepare the motorcycle, themselves, and for travel time. They will also be afforded reasonable time to return and secure the motorcycle at the conclusion of the event.

B. Equipment and Uniforms

  1. Unit members will generally wear the uniform classification (see SOP 6.12 “Uniform Guidelines and Body Armor”) designated as the uniform of the day by the duty supervisor. Despite the uniform classification, motorcycle officers will also wear the following department supplied items when assigned motorcycle patrol duties:
  1. DOT approved motorcycle helmet
  2. Black motorcycle boots
  3. Black gloves
  4. Goggles or shield
  1. Requests for additional equipment or the replacement of equipment damaged during an assignment are to be submitted to the unit supervisor for review and approval by the Operations Commander.
  1. To insure uniformity and a professional appearance, any additional equipment or uniform item an officer wishes to wear must be approved by the Operations Commander prior to its use.

C. Line Inspections

  1. To insure safe operability and professional appearance, every member of the unit will be responsible for inspecting their assigned motorcycle prior to and immediately following its use. No motorcycle that is malfunctioning or whose appearance is less than professional will be permitted to participate in any function.
  1. It will be the responsibility of the unit supervisor, the duty supervisor, or the supervisor assigned to the detail, to inspect the unit member and the motorcycle prior to the start of an assignment to insure compliance.
  2. Inspections and the reporting of damage or malfunctions are to be completed in accordance with SOP 6.22 “Department Vehicle Inspections and Equipment”.
  1. Requests for the scheduling of repairs, maintenance, and servicing will be forwarded to the Technical Services Commander by the unit supervisor.

D. Unit Evaluation

  1. Periodically, but at least annually, the PSD/CLEO will evaluate the need to maintain the unit. The evaluation will be based on the information contained in the Operations Commander’s annual report and the input of the unit supervisor. The PSD/CLEO may suspend or initiate unit activities at his discretion.

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