P.I. has Harley to use on patrols

It's not California and it's not a television show. That white Harley Davidson behind you with the flashing blue light is a deputy from Presque Isle County, and you've done something wrong.

Presque Isle County has become the second jurisdiction to use motorcycles as patrol vehicles, joining Cheboygan County as the only two-wheeled law enforcement units in the region. According to Undersheriff Joe Brewbaker, the uncommon soon will become a necessity given tight budgets and high gas prices.

"Presque Isle County has had our Harley for several years, but it is just this year that we have used it on regular road patrol," he said. "It is economical, recognizable and gives us more flexibility while we are out on patrol."

Brewbaker said the 2004 Harley Davidson Electra-Glide sports a twin-cam 88, making it both quick and a gas miser. He said the bike provides three times the gas mileage of a patrol car, or at least 60 miles per gallon. The savings to the sheriff department are significant.

He said there are restrictions on the motorcycle patrol that don't fill the need that road patrol requires. Brewbaker said the motorcycle can only be on patrol when there is at least one additional vehicle on the road. It also stays in the garage after the sun goes down, for safety reasons.

"It's a daylight only patrol vehicle for us since roaming deer would make the patrol too much of a hazard to deal with," he said. "Also, the motorcycle needs backup because if you stop a drunk driver, you have no way to transport that driver back to jail. I suppose there might be a way to get around that, but not likely or safely."

The Harley also extends that patrol route since deputies currently are limited to a maximum of 100 miles per shift. He said the motorcycle has no mileage limit.

"I will never forget the first person I stopped while on the motorcycle and I'll bet she won't either," Brewbaker said. " She took a long time to stop, even after the lights were on and the siren was going, mainly because she said she didn't see me behind her. Oh, she heard the siren OK, but expected a patrol car, not the motorcycle."

Brewbaker has trained two other deputies to ride patrols on the motorcycle, Joe Mulka and Dave Schmoldt. He first attended a two-week class with the Canton Police Department and then began training the other deputies. He said he also does all the maintenance on the bike.

"We plan to always keep a motorcycle in the patrol rotation, but given the seasonal weather extremes we have up here, I don't see motorcycles replacing the car," he said. "Leasing or buying the motorcycle is definitely cheaper than a patrol car and less expensive to operate. I just want motorists to know that we are out there on patrol."

Mike Modrzynski can be reached via e-mail at mmodrzynski@thealpenanews.com.