Police Superintendent Greg Hudon is pleased to share that the Lowell Police Department hosted a Police Motorcycle Operator Course for 29 officers from 17 police departments this week.
The 80-hour Police Motorcycle Operator Course is based on curriculum developed by Harley Davidson, Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety, and Texas A&M University.
Lowell Police offer the course annually. Classes teach basic motorcycle skills needed by police officers to work on motorcycles at low speeds, high speeds, in crowds, and in coordination with other motorcycles.
“Police motorcycles weigh in excess of 800 pounds, and when moving at very slow speeds there are specific ways you need to do things,” said Lowell Police Sgt. Thomas Daly, a certified trainer. “If you’re in a parade, for example, you need to be able to navigate through the crowds without hitting anyone. Proper braking is also vitally important because braking is key to preventing serious injuries and saving lives.”
The course was offered this week at the Cross River Center on Pawtucket Boulevard, with officers participating in training that builds skills in braking, operating in tight quarters, and anticipating hazards ahead of time.
The training is funded by tuition paid by those who attend. The training is organized and operated by certified trainers who are part of the Lowell Police Motorcycle Unit and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Motorcycle Unit.
Certified trainers include veteran Lowell Officers Charlie Manousos and Scott Sauve and Sgt. ThomasDaly, each of whom has 20 years or more of experience as a motorcycle instructor. Daly also serves as commander of the NEMLEC Motorcycle Unit. Other instructors are Arlington Police Sgt. Robert Pedrini, Lowell Officer Michael Camara, Watertown Officer Charles Samios, Natick Police Officer Toan Nguyen, Groton Police Officer Dale Rose, and Andover Police Officer Kyle Kiberd.
“I don’t think people realize the number of events we do with the motorcycles. Whether it’s patrol operations, dignitary escorts, funerals, special events or parades, the list goes on and on,” said Superintendent Hudon. “One of the reasons we run this every year is that we try to keep up our ranks of officers who are trained to ride. We also have many officers who ride in their off-duty time, and this is a way to keep them safe as well.”
The 80-hour course consists entirely of exercises on the motorcycles, and includes a four- to six-hour examination on the final day. Lowell Police officers who want to ride have to be recertified annually.
Sgt. Daly, a 29-year veteran of Lowell Police, said about 20 percent of students fail; anyone who does not have the skills required to ride is not certified.
“The standards are the standards,” said Superintendent Hudon, who was formerly a member of the Lowell Police Motorcycle Unit. “There’s no give and take — either you meet the standards or you don’t, because this is about life and death.”
Sgt. Daly said the training builds basic operating skills that officers who ride continue to build throughout their careers.
“When they come out of here we know they’re ready to start being a motor officer,” Sgt. Daly said. “This is the beginning. Officers continue to improve on these skills over the years.”
Officers participating in the training represented the Atkinson, N.H., Amesbury, Andover, Arlington, Burlington, Concord, Groton, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Medford, Natick, Newburyport, Salem, Swampscott, and Weston Police Departments.
The training can be taxing on the motorcycles, but Lowell Police Mechanic Kyriakoulis “Koule” Tsouprakos keeps the motorcycles up and running throughout the two week course, maximizing valuable training time for the student officers.
“I am grateful to everyone who helps make this motorcycle school possible, and especially Officer Sauve, Officer Manousos, and Sgt. Daly,” said Superintendent Hudon. “Those three gentlemen have been instrumental to teaching everyone that currently rides in our department, and they’ve been doing this for 25 years.”
The Lowell Police Motorcycle Unit was formed in 1923, and though the unit has not been in continuous operation it will still mark its 100-year anniversary this year.