Has there ever been any scientifically discernable advantage to assigning a cop a motorcycle? Besides chasing suspects down narrow allyways, which never happens, is there any benefit to taking a chance on a dude with a two-wheeled vehicle?
Maneuverability and speed of response in heavy traffic is a big one.
The main utility of motor cops is that they are able to move through stalled traffic to access an accident scene. In terms of high speed pursuit, a motor cop is actually at a disadvantage insofar as he has essentially no protection from incidental impact, and obviously cannot perform a PIT/TVI maneuver to stop an escaping suspect; all he can really do is report position and wait for patrol cars to come to intercept.
They do, however, look very good in parades and processions, and their bikes are generally a lot better maintained than the average patrol car.
Stranger
Also fuel economy. Why bother feeding a 2-ton V8-powered Crown Vic if all you’re going to do is write tickets all day? They’re also cheaper than a patrol car, so if you’re just trying to add some extra traffic enforcement they’re the best bang for the buck.
It’s also a good excuse to wear the leather, whose appearance is coercive.
Is there any evidence that it’s cheaper to give an officer a motorcycle rather than a car? Just WAGging it, I’d doubt there are dramatic savings but it might be justifiable to field a small number of them.
They can hide much easier since the motorcycle is more concealable than a car. This is good for catching traffic violators.
No, this is not really true. Motorcops are not able to carry as much first aid equipment, and in the larger agencies that have them in California (LAPD, LASO, CHP etc) do not investigate accidents. They are there to write tickets.
My little brother was a motorcycle cop. It is all about the man love which is the same reason piloted fighter planes still exist.
According to this link from the Seattle PD: http://www.cityofseattle.net/fleets/docs/FM_Summary_Police_Car_Motorcycle_Lease.pdf
A motorcycle cost about $38k throughout a five-year service life, whereas a patrol car costs about $54k. I honestly don’t know how significant that is in terms of overall cost of policing, but I’ll bet it’s plenty significant for smaller departments.
ETA: also, that link doesn’t appear to mention fuel costs, which are probably about half with a motorcycle.
On the other hand, having a smaller amount on the scene is more useful than a greater amount stuck behind 3 miles of traffic.
Being that as it may, it isn’t the main utility of motorcops.
I’ve never seen a California MC cop wearing leather; just short sleeves.
Not speaking for the US experience, but here in Singapore there are Motorcycle fire-engines and first responders. Seeming to put lie to the assertion that it can’t be useful. Such bikes can and do get to the scenes of accidents much faster than a full sized ambulance or firetruck, and as mentioned, having an appropriately trained person, with some equipment on scene is better than none.
As to why have them - well motorcyle cops are able to get to the head of jams much faster than a patrol car to direct / control traffic also, then round here they escort certain convoys (like army convoys for example) dcue to their increased manoueverability (spelling!!)
True for the UK as well - we have first responder paramedics on bikes who get to the scene in advance of an ambulance.
Bolding mine - based on “Cops with Cameras”-style TV shows, the bolded part is not true on the UK - the police often have to chase criminals on motorbikes (or driving a smaller car than the average patrol car), where a motorbike cop would be the best (or at least, a better) solution than a patrol car.
Some of the cops on bikes in Spain have off-roaders, they’re part of the “wilderness patrol”-type squads. One of those can get routinely to places where other vehicles would have a lot more trouble, and if it gets bogged down, a single man can take it out (unlike a bogged-down car). While others have regular bikes, the initial idea way back in the 30s was also one of maneuverability and of being able to send a two-man patrol to places that two men in a car would have had trouble reaching. I’m talking about places like forestry camps back when the trunks would still be brought down the mountain on mule back. Heck, a lot of streets in urban areas were still unpaved back then.
In an dense urban area, police in squad cars tend to be disconnected from what’s going on in the street. Police on foot patrol are more connected, but are not very mobile. Police on bicycles have better mobility than foot patrol, and motorcycle cops are even better. They all have their uses.
Anecdote: in the downtown metro area I work in, I saw a motorcycle cop waiting at a busy intersection just the other day. A car going the opposite direction ran the red light, almost hitting some pedestrians. The motorcycle cop was able to do an instant U-turn and pull the guy over before he made it to the next block. A squad car would not have been able to do that.
I’ve often seen motorcycle cops running radar since they could more easily conceal themselves behind larges bushes and signs, especially when compared to the Chevy Tahoes the normal cops drive in my hometown.
A big Harley costs $16,500 and gets 30MPG. It would be cheaper to put officers in Honda Insights when you factor in the medical costs. I did the calculations and concluded that on a passenger mile basis, that a motorcycle is 27 times more dangerous than a car. Police officers get better training and wear their helmets, but I suspect they ride a lot more miles than the average motorcyclist.
Some police forces are switching to Hondas, which are cheaper and more fuel efficient, but I doubt that they are much safer.