Monterey Park : Cycle Units to Patrol Traffic

The Police Department has formed a five-member “Motorcycle Task Force” to patrol some of the city’s major intersections in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents. The intersections slated for patrol include Garvey Avenue at Garfield Avenue and at Atlantic Boulevard.

The task force, part of the department’s newly created traffic bureau, will work Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., when most accidents happen, said Capt. James Strait. The patrol times were determined by analyzing data from the department’s new computer system, which can geographically track accidents and pinpoint specific trouble spots in the city.

The department has had motorcycle police for two years, Strait said, but the officers often had been used for duties other than traffic patrol. The motorcycle officers will now handle only traffic-related duties.

“It’s concentrated enforcement because we want to get the message across,” Strait said. In six months, he said, police officials will review the task force’s effectiveness in preventing accidents.