OFF THE WIRE
http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/chief-elaborates-on-motorcycle-plan
Chief Elaborates On Motorcycle Plan
Responds to concerns and questions raised by several Lynnfield Patch readers. Deal allows town residents who buy a car at a Kelly dealership as of Feb. 1 to have $50 donated to a fund for a new police motorcycle.
By William Laforme
February 3, 2012 Lynnfield Police Department
The recent announcement of a partnership between the Lynnfield Police and the Kelly Automotive Group to help the department get a new motorcycle has generated a fair amount of reader interest and discussion among residents offline as well.
With this in mind, Lynnfield Police Chief David Breen wanted to add a couple of comments about the plan, specifically with an eye on a couple of concerns that were raised by Patch readers. For example, at least two readers left comments asking whether a small car could get the same job done as a motorcycle, but with greater safety for the officer.
On Monday a reader named Sydney asked what the cost of motorcycle training is for the town, and whether there is a shift pay differential for an officer using one as opposed to a car. She also suggested the department could use a Hyundai Accent or Chevy Sonic in place of the motorcycle for the safety of officers and also because of those vehicles' fuel efficiency.
"Hyundai Accents and Chevrolet Sonics do not have the room for police packages to be installed inside the passenger compartment. They have not been tested for use as patrol vehicles and do not have the room necessary to hold prisoners. Motorcycle training is rigorous and many departments surrounding Lynnfield already have them. They find them to be invaluable for use in traffic enforcement, parades, funerals, and at schools. There is no cost to train an officer as we already have one fully trained. We also have two openings in future training at no cost to the town which we were able to negotiate with the lease. There is no pay differential for officers riding the motorcycle." replied Chief Breen in a Thursday email. "The partnership saves taxpayers money. That is the key."
Another reader this week named Don made a tongue in cheek comment saying that "the way people drive in town, there will be lots of speeding violations," possibly enough to fund several motorcycles.
From here, Breen wanted to clarify another common public misconception about what happens to revenues generated by speeding tickets. Some may think that all of this money goes to the town, or that some, or even all of it, goes to the police department. Instead, explained Breen, the police department gets none of the direct revenue from speeding tickets - The money is actually divided evenly between the state and the town's general fund.
