OFF THE WIRE
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20130221/NEWS01/302210022?nclick_check=1
New motorcycle officers hit the streets of Visalia
Feb 25, 2013
Visalia police motorcycle officer Todd Johns writes a
ticket for a man who had headphones on while driving his car Wednesday on Mooney
Boulevard.
Visalia police motorcycle officers Bill Hansen, left,
and Todd Johns, ride down Mooney Boulevard Wednesday. / Eric Woomer Zoom Visalia
police motorcycle officer Bill Hansen writes a ticket for two young children who
were not properly restrained in a truck on Mooney Boulevard Wednesday.
The last thing speeders, red-light runners and distracted
drivers want to see in their rear-view mirror is an officer on a motorcycle,
mainly because it’s likely to result in a hefty fine.
Motorists in Visalia now have two more reasons to obey the
law: Bill Hansen and Todd Johns. They’re Visalia’s newest motorcycle officers.
Tasked with patrolling the streets of Visalia and cracking down on traffic
violators, the newest members of the department’s eight-officer motorcycle team
say it’s one of the most sought after units in law enforcement. “It’s a great
specialty unit, there’s no doubt about it,” said Johns, who came from the
department’s DUI enforcement team. “It’s a unit with one of the biggest effects
on a problem. Our main goal is to address the issues on the streets.” Motorcycle
police officers start their morning patrolling areas around Visalia schools.
Keeping children safe while walking to and from school is a top priority, Johns
said. After that, officers, in two-person teams, spread out across the city.
Motorists can find them in the most problematic areas of town, usually where
there is the most traffic. They write the majority of the department’s tickets,
said Sgt. Chris McLain, who oversees the unit. Motorcycle officers are also
typically the first on scene at major traffic crashes and collisions. They’re
trained to investigate crashes and undergo 80 hours of training before hopping
on a bike. They can be called out at all hours of the night for major crashes
and fatalities. “They have to love what they do. Whether it’s 110 or 25 degrees
outside, they’re out there,” McClain said. “They are as well-trained as can be.
They are certified in radar and often have backgrounds in recognizing DUI and
drug users.” Hansen said when he began in patrol, he didn’t like traffic
accident calls for service. After handling dozens of crashes month, he honed his
skills and found his niche. Johns and Hansen have a combined 45 years of
experience on motorcycles and both ride when off duty. They were immediately
attracted to the motorcycle unit because of the opportunity it will give them to
broaden their resume. It’s an opportunity, though, that most likely wouldn’t
have been available had the department not instituted a mandatory rotation
shift. While some officers think that the rotation takes knowledgeable officers
off specialty beats, Sgt. Amy Watkins says it creates a more well-rounded police
officer. The four-year rotation, with a maximum one-year extension, means more
officers are in and out of units such as motorcycles, SWAT, bomb squad, property
crimes, gang suppression unit, auto theft and narcotics. Each officer in one of
these units is given a $1,000-a-year bonus. The extra money isn’t the driving
force, Watkins said. “These specialty units sharpen skills. We now have two
motorcycle officers off the unit and in patrol with a greater experience on how
to investigate a crash or DUI,” she said of the officers that were replaced by
Johns and Hansen. “You’re going to be a better police officer with each new
assignment.”
