Motorcade officer dies

[jesse]

This is not good for us. That makes 3 such fatalities in about 3 years. I've seen these guys zipping around on funeral processions as well. There must be something that can be done different while escorting dignitaries or funeral processions to ensure the safety of all involved. It just does not speak well for motorcycle safety when people die in a somewhat controlled environment. I hate it for the officers involved and their families. Just seems like so many MC fatalities could easily be avoided.

 

[keithaba]

get a link for the article?

 

[wfooshee]

Our sheriff's dept stopped motorcycle escorts for funerals years ago because of serious injuries to a couple of riders. They even stopped the motorcycle officer program completely for about 5 years.

The leapfrog game they have to play to block an intersection, then zip forward to to the next intersection, is definitely a problem if side traffic is unaware or impatient.

I've been in a couple of funeral processions in my car where I had to take avoiding action from side traffic that was completely aware of the funeral, just not willing to wait for it to pass, and crossed the procession.

I don't know the answer, but as long as Johnny Q. Public lacks the respect owed to such events, the only way to handle it with motorcycles is to have enough of them to block EVERYTHING so it's more of a parade than all the zipping forward and stopping.

It's sad, because in all these events I've seen, there's only been one time when it was actually the officer just lost it and crashed while on escort duty. I don't know the specifics of this event referenced, and it doesn't really matter, but the others have been collisions with traffic trying to force itself into or across the procession.

 

[wheatonFJR]

get a link for the article?

clicky here

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

Very sad to hear of that terrible loss. Words sure fail me right now.

 

[Toecutter]

That blows. For those area riders who feel compelled to show respect for the fallen Hero, the Patriot Guard may very well be involved with the services, although I'd imagine it will be a monumental affair even without them.

I wonder if all the candidates get that level of security? I'd sure hope so....One of them is going to be the next President.

 

[artistonFJR]

This is sad, and too frequent. To answer your Q?? Toe, Hillary gets the Secret Service because she was the First Lady, otherwise she would be required to supply her own security, as the others do. As far as local police or other city security I believe it is paid for by the campaign (or its contributors) and is often "donated" by the city to keep its OWN environment safe and pure from any incident that might make it known as the "other grassy knoll".

C

 

[FJR_pig]

This is sad, and too frequent. To answer your Q?? Toe, Hillary gets the Secret Service because she was the First Lady, otherwise she would be required to supply her own security, as the others do. As far as local police or other city security I believe it is paid for by the campaign (or its contributors) and is often "donated" by the city to keep its OWN environment safe and pure from any incident that might make it known as the "other grassy knoll".
C

You're half right. Hillary does have USSS protection due to her former status. Obama also has it, though. He has had it for almost a year due to his prominence and some threats made. It comes down to how high profile the candidate is and how close they are to the nomination. For a top candidate to have it this close to the major party conventions, totally normal. That said, McCain was offered protection some time ago, but rejected it. He doesn't believe in it. He would have it if he wanted, though.

Back to the point of this thread... :glare: ,as long as the agency is training properly, there probably isn't a safer way to do the escorts other than to decline them. They are dangerous, that's all there is to it. I did them on/off for the nearly four years I rode for work. It is one of the most dangerous things you can do on a police bike and you have to train appropriately for some unique dangers.

I was in Dallas today on my way back to Portland. This was all over the news at DFW. Pretty somber.

 

[Wicked Webby]

This is sad, and too frequent. To answer your Q?? Toe, Hillary gets the Secret Service because she was the First Lady, otherwise she would be required to supply her own security, as the others do. As far as local police or other city security I believe it is paid for by the campaign (or its contributors) and is often "donated" by the city to keep its OWN environment safe and pure from any incident that might make it known as the "other grassy knoll".
C

C,

That sounds about right. I know once they are official Presidential Nominees, they get Secret Service no matter who they are/were. I concur with the dangers of these M/C Police Escorts. They are WAY TOO dangerous!! Too many close calls when Motors escort like this. The Secret Service doesn't even want these types of escorts anymore. They worry about the Motors getting in the way of the motorcade and prefer only an honorary type escort. This is where the Motors are only there for show and ride within the motorcade. Parade style, in formation, at the front, and the rear possibly too. Just for looks, not a working escort. This system of escort the squad cars do the actual shutting down of intersections and make it a whole lot safer for the Motor Officers.

My prayers go out to Senior Corporal Victor Lozada Tirado and his loved ones.

WW

 

[gr8eyes]

Sad indeed.

 

[.paul]

I'm ignorant on this topic, but why don't M/C LEO's wear protective gear, aside from the brain bucket, gloves, and boots? I see FFX and VA troopers wearing regular uniform stuff (button down shirt and slacks) while on the road/patrol and doing escorts. Wouldn't it make sense to wear protective gear if you're going to ride like a bat out of hell to get three intersections up the road, in the case of escorts?

This is a sad story, and it's a damn shame he had to die - nobody deserves to die an untimely death - but I don't think everyone would be saying the same thing if it was a regular joe that got tagged riding in a t-shirt and jeans. I'm sure there would be much more comments about "ride for the fall" and "should have been geared up and not riding fast" and the like. They're kind of asking for it riding around sans gear, no?

*disclaimer* I'm not trying to be an *******, I am being serious.*/disclaimer*

 

[Toecutter]

I'm ignorant on this topic, but why don't M/C LEO's wear protective gear, aside from the brain bucket, gloves, and boots?

Money? They probably have to buy their own non-issued stuff, and some agencies don't even allow the use of non-issued gear.

Wayne of Cycleport told me he has about 35 officers in Sacramento wearing and loving the gear, and negotiations are pending with CHP.

Perhaps a geared-out officer needs to fare well in a crash to get a paradigm shift among municipalities....

 

[fjrchik]

Lewisville, TX is ending their motorcycle patrol because of this death in Dallas and safety concerns.

Story

 

[HotRodZilla]

I'm ignorant on this topic, but why don't M/C LEO's wear protective gear, aside from the brain bucket, gloves, and boots? I see FFX and VA troopers wearing regular uniform stuff (button down shirt and slacks) while on the road/patrol and doing escorts. Wouldn't it make sense to wear protective gear if you're going to ride like a bat out of hell to get three intersections up the road, in the case of escorts?
This is a sad story, and it's a damn shame he had to die - nobody deserves to die an untimely death - but I don't think everyone would be saying the same thing if it was a regular joe that got tagged riding in a t-shirt and jeans. I'm sure there would be much more comments about "ride for the fall" and "should have been geared up and not riding fast" and the like. They're kind of asking for it riding around sans gear, no?

*disclaimer* I'm not trying to be an *******, I am being serious.*/disclaimer*

I no longer ride a police bike, and there is some protection, although it is obviously lacking. There are the standard gloves and helmets, but until recently, nobody was using modulars and we all had those CHIP's half helmet brain buckets. Lots of wrecks and griping has begun to change things. The kevlar vests we wear are excellent protection for our torsos, but this still leaves our elbows and shoulders exposed. Most agencies use the motorcycle pants that are reinforced, but are no where near as protective as good mesh gear with CE armour.

Here's the problem with "gearing-up": Due to the inherent dangers in this job, everything we wear revolves around our ability to get to our guns and the other stuff on our "bat-belts." I have seen some guys wear a short mesh jacket that offers some protection and rides above their holsters, but to wear armored pants is just about out of the question. A 3/4 jacket with great armor is also not an option just because of the equipment issues. And then there is the heat. Bullet resistant vests do not breathe, and most guys on the hottest of days are wearing a t-shirt, the vest, and the uniform shirt. Add a jacket to that and the heat quickly becomes unbearable. A crappy excuse, but still an excuse.

A couple of people already touched on this earlier, but IMHO, police bikes have NO business in escorts. The leap-frogging is extremely dangerous and I hate doing it in my Crown Vic, and refused to do it on my Harley. Presidential motorcades are even worse because they are sometimes moving at around 110mph. So a guy stops at an intersection, clears it and then has to do 130 trying to catch the escort, pass it, and get to the next slot. Motorcycles are put in escorts for the wow factor. Germaine Casey, a Rio Rancho motor-officer, died here in November. The thing is, the escort never entered Rio Rancho's jurisdiction. Those guys were there to make their department's leaders look good. We always have 30+ bikes riding in the front of the escort in close formation while there are 50-80 cruisers moving around the rest of the pack somewhere behind. If you want to simulate the experience try this...Watch a DVD close enough to follow the plot, talk on the phone, follow the car in front of you really close, and do it all at 100+ while on your bike. The only way to get really good at it is to do it ALOT, and we just don't train that way. There is absolutely a time and place for police motors, but motorcades are not it. It is totally too bad another guy died and left a family behind.