Policy Text
Policy
510Fremont Police Department
Use of Police Motorcycles
510.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the selection of Motorcycle Officers and the
use of motorcycle units. Additionally, when employed, Motorcycle Officers are to be used primarily
for traffic-related duties, such as traffic enforcement and collision investigations.
510.2 PROCEDURES
Motorcycle units may be used as part of the accident prevention effort, and when so used, will be
assigned to work shifts, which will most effectively use their expertise and capabilities.
(a)Length of Motorcycle Assignment:
1.Assignment to motorcycle duty will generally be for a two-year period. Assigned
officers may be extended for an additional year, with the officer's agreement and
staff approval, for a period not to exceed five years, or as currently outlined in
policy 1005.
2.Officers may be reassigned to duties other than motorcycle enforcement at any
time prior to the end of the two-year assignment period, if such reassignment is
deemed in the best interest of the department.
3.Use of motorcycles and assignment to such duty will be determined in
accordance with overall departmental staffing demands as they evolve.
(b)Care and Storage of Motorcycles
1.Officers living within the Tri-City area, and who possess a covered, locked
storage facility at their residence, may take their assigned motorcycle home.
2.Officers taking their assigned motorcycle home must ensure that it is stored in
a locked storage facility.
3.Motorcycles used to proceed to and from work will not be used for any type of
personal business.
4.Officers living outside of the Tri-City area will be required to store their assigned
motorcycle at the designated City parking/storage area.
5.The motorcycle will be picked up at this location at the start of the day and
returned there at the end of the workday.
6.Each motorcycle will be assigned to a particular Traffic Officer, and the officer
will be responsible for making certain that the motorcycle receives proper
maintenance and cleaning from appropriate service departments.
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Fremont Police Department
Use of Police Motorcycles
7.Officers may make certain types of personal modifications to their assigned
motorcycles, but must obtain written approval from the manager responsible for
Traffic prior to any modifications taking place.
(c)Motorcycle Enforcement Operations
1.Motorcycle Officers are assigned to Traffic Enforcement and should not be
assigned Patrol duties except as needed for in-progress crimes, cover, and
emergency situations.
2.If it is necessary to assign Motorcycle Officers to Patrol duties for an entire shift,
the officer will store the motorcycle at the City storage location and use a Patrol
car for the period assigned to Patrol.
3.Motorcycle Officers who become engaged in a pursuit shall relinquish the pursuit
to the first available Patrol car, and thereafter, shall not continue the pursuit
unless essential to the safety of other pursuing officers.
(d)Protective Equipment
1.Motorcycle Officers are required to wear protective equipment. (See Uniform
Specifications) The below listed approved equipment will be worn when the
officer is riding the motorcycle:
(a)Motorcycle helmet.
(b)Motorcycle gloves.
(c)Motorcycle pants.
(d)Motorcycle boots or patrol duty boots.
(e)Weather Considerations
(a)Motorcycles will not be ridden during rainy weather.
(b)Officers assigned to motorcycles on rainy days will be reassigned to Patrol
cars. If it is raining prior to the officer's assigned shift, the officer will store the
motorcycle at home or leave it stored at the City storage facility, whichever
location is the normal storage location.
(c)If it starts raining during an assigned shift, the Motorcycle Officer will take his
motorcycle to the City storage area, or his home if normally stored there, as soon
as practical. The officer will then complete his assigned shift in a Patrol vehicle.
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