(Motorcycle Unit Officers Scott Sodaro and Steve Wagner)

This summer, the Hickory Hills Police Department will deploy two new Harley Davidson motorcycles to complement their current patrol fleet. Five patrol officers assigned to this detail have received additional police motorcycle training from Northwestern University Traffic Institute. Some of the benefits associated with utilizing motorcycles for rendering police services include: improved maneuverability when responding to areas that are otherwise inaccessible to standard patrol cars due to traffic congestion and obstructions; increased accessibility of officers to the general public and, as a result, fostering better communication between the community and the department; and, the conservation of vehicle fuel usage while providing basic police services. The cost of purchasing the two motorcycles, equipping them, and maintenance associated with their use, was offset with revenue from the department’s narcotics forfeiture fund. The primary mission of the motorcycle detail will be to perform standard patrol functions, selective traffic enforcement initiatives, enhance existing community relations programs, participate in special events, and improve police interactions with the public which are designed to address quality of life issues.