Cops ‘n’ Riders : Cyclists Learn Safety at Santa Ana Police Bike Rodeo

From submachine guns to single-shot revolvers, from police motorcycles to Harley-Davidsons, there was plenty of diversity Saturday at the Santa Ana Police Department’s Bike Rodeo--including a nine-officer rock band.

The rodeo’s two-block obstacle course was dotted with orange pylons to help teach children about bicycle safety. And more than a dozen police, government and community groups set up booths to promote their causes.

Santa Ana Police Sgt. Bob Clark acknowledged that the event was as much about public relations as bicycle safety, providing police with an opportunity to meet and greet local children. Clark said the public relations component of the second annual event took on an added importance given the recent bad press Southland police have been receiving--generated, in part, by the O.J. Simpson murder trial and former L.A. Detective Mark Fuhrman’s racial epithets.

“Everything people hear and read does not pertain to every cop,” Clark said. “This is an example of the positive stuff.”

Children participating in the rodeo invariably pointed to the grab-bag of T-shirts, medals and stickers they earned after completing the obstacle course as the best part of the day, adding, “It’s fun.”

But Chano Garcia, 11, said he did learn a thing or two about police officers. “They’re nice,” said the Roosevelt Elementary School student, who rode his bicycle to the event with his younger brother. “They keep our Earth clean from crime.”

Many of those at the event were relatives of Santa Ana police officers, and by mid-afternoon, about 100 children had completed the obstacle course. Bicycles were provided for those who did not have their own.

Children fidgeted with helmets as they waited to give the course a try. After each section of the course--one tested for balance--they were graded excellent, good or fair. “They all pass,” one officer said.

Chano’s 11-year-old brother, Alex, said he learned some pointers about bicycle safety. “I learned how to cross the street,” he said, adding that he had always ridden his bicycle across the street rather than properly walk it.

Cpl. Dan McDermott took time out from chasing bad guys Saturday to inspect and repair bicycles. By early afternoon, he had done about four.

“If I have the tools and I can do it, I’ll fix it,” McDermott said as he fiddled with nuts and bolts on a seat he had removed.

Others who took time out from police work were members of the Mutual Aid band. (The name refers to a policy that allows police departments to assist each other in emergencies.) The nine musicians, who played songs from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, are members of Orange and Los Angeles county police departments.

The band doesn’t play songs with drug or crime-related themes, said guitarist Ed Riojas of the Monterey Park force.

“The police chief and I were talking about how to reach kids,” said Riojas, who once played on the hotel circuit. “And we thought of music, so we put the word out” among police departments.

Among the booths and displays in the parking lot were five low-riders that belonged to Santa Ana car club members. The cars were on display, said Nasario Bastida, president of the Uniques Car Club, to show kids that they can put their energy into activities other than crime. “We focus more on our rides [cars] than anything else,” said Bastida, 25.

One eye-catcher was a purple 1986 Datsun 300 ZX with paintings of dead snakes and skeletons. Vehicles with skull paintings included Harley-Davidson motorcycles, owned by police officers, which were displayed just a few feet from a pair of Kawasaki Police 1000 motorcycles.

Nearby was a booth for the Single Action Shooting Society, dedicated to reliving the days of the Old West. Dressed in cowboy hats and holsters, they had nicknames like “Big Medicine” and talked of the beauty of single-shot revolvers designed in the 1800s.

Across the way was a display of more than half a dozen guns, including a 9mm submachine gun and a 12-gauge shotgun, belonging to the Santa Ana Police Department SWAT Team. Sgt. John Follo had ready answers for children who asked about the intimidating weapons: “It’s to protect people and ourselves. . . . It’s to protect their moms and dads, and they pretty much understand that.”