Council Delays Deciding Whether to Put Police Back on Motorcycles

The City Council has delayed until next Tuesday a decision on whether to reinstate a police motorcycle program halted 14 years ago. Council members postponed a vote scheduled for this month on the matter, saying they want more detailed information first so that they can address concerns about liability and weigh the potential risks.

“There’s no question that there are benefits to the program,” Councilman John J. Collins said, but he added that putting officers on motorcycles “creates a higher risk” of personnel being injured on the job if they are in traffic accidents.

Collins also expressed concerns about operating costs of such a program and loss of police coverage in patrol cars.

Police Chief Elvin G. Miali said the city has been awarded a $79,600 state grant to institute a motorcycle traffic enforcement program. The money would pay for four motorcycles and some equipment for them.

To minimize the city’s liability, Miali said, officers would be trained at the California Highway Patrol’s motorcycle school.

Because of the increase in traffic on city streets, Miali said, the number of accidents resulting in injuries, deaths and property damage has risen. With motorcycles, which can maneuver more easily than cars, “we can reduce accidents,” he said.

Fountain Valley police stopped using motorcycles in 1982 because of concerns about liability and officer safety. It is one of only three Orange County cities without a motorcycle program. The others are Los Alamitos and La Palma.