MPD's motor officers begin patrols today
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
May 29, 2004
Meridian officials hope the city's streets will be a little safer today when two motor officers begin patrolling on two new Harley Davidson Police Model Road Kings.
Four Meridian Police Department officers completed a basic motorcycle operators course for police motor patrol units on Friday, and are now ready to roll.
The local Chunky River Harley Davidson dealership donated four new bikes to the department earlier this year so they could form a motor unit. For legal reasons, the dealership later had to agree to lease the bikes for $1 a month.
Once the lease agreement was finalized, the training was scheduled for this week. All four officers passed the course.
But some of the officers said the training was not as easy as they thought it would be.
In addition to Ramsey, other officers who completed the course were Dan Moody, Tim Robinson and Ron Payton.
Stan Kittrell, with the University of Southern Mississippi motor unit, taught the course at the city's training center on Sand Flat Road. Kittrell was a motor officer with the Hattiesburg Police Department for 22 years.
Meridian's new motor officers will work accidents and serve as escorts in order to free up other officers for patrolling neighborhoods and businesses, according to Keith McCary, the department's assistant chief.
Moody said the course was extremely difficult and normally has a 70 percent failure rate. But, he said, he was pleased that each of the MPD officers passed on their first try.
Two civilians, Ed Johnson and Jim Brumfield, also took the course.
Brumfield and Johnson, both members of the Chunky River Harley Owners Group, took the course so they could teach club members about motorcycle safety. Brumfield said the club also held three fund raisers to help the officers pay for motorcycle pants and boots.
Meurice LeFevre, owner of Chunky River Harley Davidson, said he decided to donate the motorcycles because he wanted to do something nice for the city.
LeFevre said the motorcycles are worth about $20,000 each. He said after a year, he will sale the motorcycles that are currently in use and give the MPD four new ones.
