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This Harley’s Cop-Equipped

by Paul Bass | Jun 30, 2010 3:05 pm

(8) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Legal Writes

Paul Bass Photo Officer William Hoffman’s going out on a spin today on a police motorcycle wired like no other before it, at least in Connecticut.

Hoffman (pictured above) is a motorcycle patrol cop in New Haven. Wednesday he got a brand new hog with all sorts of gizmos.

The department has bought five 2010 Harley-Davidson FLHP Road King Solo Law Enforcement bikes and developed a way for their riders to have access to the same kind of wireless data access that cops have in patrol cars.

Riders will be able to tap into databases to check license plates of people they stop, as well as outstanding warrants, through a mobile data terminal (“MDT” in tech speak). They’ll be able to communicate silently via computer screen, off the public police radio system, with dispatchers.

No other police department in Connecticut has such high-tech-equipped cycles, according to new Assistant Police Chief Tobin Hensgen, who’s assigned to be the department’s “innovation guru.”

Hoffman, an 11-year veteran of the force, joined the motorcycle unit a month ago. He has the honor of testing out the new hog, bike #180, for any bugs. Assuming all works well, the four other cycles will hit the road, too, in two to three weeks.

The department put the new bikes on display at a press conference Wednesday morning outside the police training academy on Sherman Parkway. The idea is to enable motorcycle cops, who deal directly with quality-of-life concerns like speeders and dirt-bikers, to have the tools that other patrol officers have.

“This is your tax dollars at work—providing police officers with the resources they need” to fight crime, said Chief Frank Limon. He said the five cycles cost $13,600 apiece; the city’s paying for them out of capital funds. The MDT accessories cost another $2,300 each; the city got a state grant to pay for those.

Lt. Bob Muller designed the hook-up. He jimmied with the plating and the wiring in the bins placed on the bikes’ backs to make sure the Panasonic Toughback mobile computers would stay secure and connected. He also reworked the antennae at the front of the bikes for the same purpose, and to insure officers’ safety as they ride.

Other relevant techie specifications: the new cycles have 1690 cc OHV Twin Cam engines. Translated, that apparently means they can go faster than the kind of dirt biker that Lt. Ray Hassett, and then more than a half-dozen back-up cops, were chasing in the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood around 6:30 Tuesday evening.

Muller designed the hook-up to draw less power.

Motorcycle cops will also ride with Bluetooth sets rather than radios on the new steeds.

Muller, who’s been a New Haven cop for 24 years, said he’s received an education in technology and engineering since becoming head of the department’s information services 10 years ago. He wasn’t an especially avid tinkerer before that, he said. “I was a happy patrol sergeant.”

The department also bought 12 new patrol cars at $26,000 apiece. One key feature is a Pro-gard plexiglass screen covering the area between the front and back seats, replacing metal-mesh screens that left room for uncooperative suspects to reach toward the front or spit at cops, said Officer Joe Avery.

“This is much safer,” Avery said.

Comments

posted by: Boristt on June 30, 2010 4:19pm

I thought the city has no money,oh i forgot theres no money when it comes to the custodians.You could buy 50 motorcycles a couple of tanks it still ain,t going to stop the shooting.Maybe we should get a new chief i heard theres somebody qualified in iceland.

posted by: Daniel on June 30, 2010 10:07pm

And how is that comment helpful? Let’s realize that we have good cops with a hard job. If an accident happened with one of the older vehicles, we’d all say “why the heck didn’t they upgrade to current cars and bikes?” If someone outran one of our cops we’d all say “why the heck don’t our police have vehicles that are fast enough?”. But now that they are getting these new vehicles you want to criticize? That’s just lame. New Vehicles are figured into budgets to be replaced every so often, and they should be.

All I have to say is “Damn, those are some great bikes and I’m glad our cops can’t be spit on any more from the back seat.” Let’s just leave it at that. This is something that we can be proud of.

posted by: NewHavenResident on July 1, 2010 1:30am

Ofc. Williams is an incredible cop. He deserves an upgrade. ...

posted by: thank you mayor on July 1, 2010 3:36am

5 new bikes 12 new cars man imagine the taxes on that don’t worry the city residents will paid for it thanks mr. mayor thanks

posted by: all gear all the time on July 1, 2010 7:50pm

I think motorcycle units are important, but I’d like to see police officers setting better motorcycle safety examples by wearing better protective gear.
I think, if they want, they should be allowed to wear a full helmet, protective gloves and protective, armored jackets.
If they get knocked off like this, say goodbye to the skin on their arms.

posted by: guns bikes & helmets on July 4, 2010 12:55pm

The Police need to be well-equipped to face any foe, as is their mission: To serve & protect. Motorcycles that can physically handle the demands of police work (which includes keeping up with those who engage in pursuit, ending in apprehension) are necessary and worth the investment. Having officers be aware of outstanding warrants, past violence, etc before approaching the vehicle’s occupant is necessary for his/her safety.

Keeping that information off the air (packet radio) is questionable though because the police should remain transparent in operation as much as possible, to prevent abuse of power. That is why police scanners (you can listen, but not transmit) are legal. Law-abiding citizens such as myself use scanners to monitor police airwaves (as do the newsmedia) to know what is going on in the community, as well as know what issues face officers during their work.

Full riding gear would be appropriate for officers, and would set a better example. Their tall boots are cool, but perhaps a riding jacket (even the Hells Angels have better gear!) with armor, backplate, and reflective markings would be better than the cotton/polyester shirt with bullet proof vest.

It isn’t easy being a cop, and I admire those who put on the uniform every day. Thank you, Chief Limon, and the NHPD!

PS, I used to live on Dwight Street (2004-2006) and I believe there is no better officer than Lt Ray Hassett. He was a “stormtrooper” in Empire Strikes Back, and continues to be an awesome role model for cops on the beat today!

posted by: Star Wars on July 5, 2010 6:53am

May the force be with you Lt…....

posted by: facebookprofileiayout on July 29, 2010 12:11am

Pink power pounds the streets in Midlothian. image. Shannon Malkerson, of Midlothian, bikes into the morning sun as she crests the final.

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