Training Day

It's been pretty somber around here lately. Maybe this will lighten the mood a little. My unit just completed transition training from our Kawasakis to our new BMWs. We are waiting on council approval for 2 more bikes, so I'm still riding an old KZ but the guys that actually go out and do the work should have the best equipment possible..............at least that is what I keep telling myself as I drool over those RTs.

They are incredible! You would never guess those German bikes could maneuver like they do. :hail The wife took a few photos of our training and just in case the posting doesn't go as planned(which it didn't) here is a link.

Training Days

Howdy,

That's pretty cool. It would be even cooler if the PD put on a training day like this and invited local riders to attend and to do the same drills!! I of course would be wearing a litte more protection that you seem to be allowed to wear :P

Adios,

Why is it that MCPO's aren't allowed to wear leather or at least a high grade textile jacket?

That, and why, oh why... did the last Austin MCPO that I came across not have a DOT cert helmet?

BTW... the new RT's are sweet man...

And I also believe that they should let other motorcyclists in to turn the drills.

Ok... I pulled an alexisbroke moment...

That post above belongs to me...

I wouldn't mind opening up the courses to the public, but #1 the city won't pay my salary to do it and #2 the city won't take on the liability. Sure enough someone would drop their bike or hurt themself and file a claim. Maybe when some of these leeches, er......lawyers, die off we might be able to do something like that.

I'm working on the protective gear part. My new Lt rode sportbikes and he understands. I just got through ordering some "real" gloves from AGV for duty use. They already got us good ARAI helmets and I'm checking around for armor that we might be able to conceal and still have the traditional motorcop look ---- and that the guys will actually wear.

We do have leather, but it's just the traditonal black leather jacket. Too thick for all but the coldest days and no armor. Oh well, it's better than nothing. Believe me I know. I've been down on my KZ at 35+ with nothing but blue jeans, a T-shirt, thin gloves and a 3/4 helmet. Not pretty. Took me 3 days before I could even walk without help and a couple weeks before I could get on my bike.

Good luck with your quest for personal safety. It's about time the tides change for the two-wheeled men in blue. I've been down before at a relatively low speed with no gear and I consdier myself lucky to still be here. I was really lucky I only missed a week of work and the bike was pretty cheap to repair (it was a YZ-80). Something as simple as a good pair of gloves would have saved me a ton of pain and inconvenience. It's pretty tough to do mechanical work when a good portion of the hide on your palms is chewed up...

Anonymous said:

That, and why, oh why... did the last Austin MCPO that I came across not have a DOT cert helmet?

Click to expand...

Last year an APD motor officer suffered a permanent head injuryin a collision on Riverside Drive. Since that day, I've seen nothing but 3/4 style, DOT certified helmets at the very least. Some have the flip-front style as well. I would like to see more weather appropriate riding gear for these guys though. Most are wearing long sleeve shirts and those polyester pants with calf-high cavalry boots. I think with the shift away from the Harleys here to BMW's better gear may become a higher priority.

txmedic said:

Anonymous said:

That, and why, oh why... did the last Austin MCPO that I came across not have a DOT cert helmet?

Click to expand...

Last year an APD motor officer suffered a permanent head injuryin a collision on Riverside Drive. Since that day, I've seen nothing but 3/4 style, DOT certified helmets at the very least. Some have the flip-front style as well. I would like to see more weather appropriate riding gear for these guys though. Most are wearing long sleeve shirts and those polyester pants with calf-high cavalry boots. I think with the shift away from the Harleys here to BMW's better gear may become a higher priority.

Click to expand...

I remember that happening... But there are some that still ride with the brain bucket... In fact, the one I saw was travelling down San Jacinto on a Beemer, escorting President Fox....

Disgustipated said:

txmedic said:

Anonymous said:

That, and why, oh why... did the last Austin MCPO that I came across not have a DOT cert helmet?

Click to expand...

Last year an APD motor officer suffered a permanent head injuryin a collision on Riverside Drive. Since that day, I've seen nothing but 3/4 style, DOT certified helmets at the very least. Some have the flip-front style as well. I would like to see more weather appropriate riding gear for these guys though. Most are wearing long sleeve shirts and those polyester pants with calf-high cavalry boots. I think with the shift away from the Harleys here to BMW's better gear may become a higher priority.

Click to expand...

I remember that happening... But there are some that still ride with the brain bucket... In fact, the one I saw was travelling down San Jacinto on a Beemer, escorting President Fox....

Click to expand...

I'm sure some of them still wear the buckets. I just saw a huge increase in the use of better helmets after the crash.

txmedic said:

Last year an APD motor officer suffered a permanent head injuryin a collision on Riverside Drive. Since that day, I've seen nothing but 3/4 style, DOT certified helmets at the very least. Some have the flip-front style as well. I would like to see more weather appropriate riding gear for these guys though. Most are wearing long sleeve shirts and those polyester pants with calf-high cavalry boots. I think with the shift away from the Harleys here to BMW's better gear may become a higher priority.

Click to expand...

I speak to some of their guys on a regular basis. It will be a while before they can get rid of the KZs and the Harleys. Something about the bottom falling out of the tech industry and no money in the city budget.............

Don't count on the gear getting better. Admin is not the only place you have to fight for protection. A lot of the resistance is from the officers themselves. You can offer them 3/4 helmets or the Nolan flip face (like APD has been using) and quite a few won't wear them. Same goes for gloves and armor.

And there's nothing wrong with the Nazi boots. They offer a good amount of protection and the women seem to really like them.