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wingswheels said:
Thats horrible, as much as i am not a fan of police in general, I never understood it, they are far more likely to dump the bike then get shot.
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Why are you not a fan of police in general? It'd suck if you called 911 and no one has showed up....
Since I was a motorcycle cop I can tell you it's all entirely based in tradition.... When the PD's started using motorcycles the guys who were on them for the most part came from the Mounted units... Hence the reason who most departments still wear a uniform close to that of the US clavary back in the turn of the century (1900's)... Over the years as technology has changed the uniform was modified slightly, basically the addition of a helmet.... My hat differed from that of regular patrol cops due to the fact that when cops used to ride, before helmets, they'd squish the hat on their head... The only time I wore a leather jacket was when it was cold... It's unerving for someone who always wore gear to go out in short sleves and a half helmet....
As for more cops getting into an accident then getting shot at, that's entirely false... There are very few cops on motorcycles... The failure rate when I went through the course was over 50%... NYPD is know for having the toughest motorcycle school in the country.... Out of a 40,000 member PD, the largest in the world, only 220 of us were permitted to ride a motorcycle when I left....
I've see many guys get severely injured on a motorcycle, but many, many more get hurt or killed by gunfire... The numbers are too few for the brass to take notice, nor care since they do not understand what we do... Plus there is too much pride and tradition to change the way things are done....
Boots and Breeches will be the atire of motorcycle cops for years to come....
I'm sorry to hear about your friend and her husband.... Full ger may or may not have saved him from hitting his juglar....
I don't understand why he would be retired but yet still wearing a uniform, Retired on his shield or not... I still carry my shield with my # on it, my ID card say's retired... I have the option of getting a retired shield, but I have to pay for it and I'm too cheap....