Grant awarded: SPPD to have first motorcycle officer in five decades

September 15, 2004
Santa Paula Police Department

For the first time since the 1950s there will be a motorcycle cop on the streets after the Santa Paula Police Department received a $156,550 grant to pay the officer and buy the bike.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesFor the first time since the 1950s there will be a motorcycle cop on the streets after the Santa Paula Police Department received a $156,550 grant to pay the officer and buy the bike.The City Council approved the acceptance of the Office of Traffic Grant at the Sept. 7 meeting.Police Chief Bob Gonzales noted that the SPPD is “just waiting for the money to come in,” that will fund officer’s salary for 18 months, buy a fully equipped police traffic motorcycle, new radar equipment and training.“We’ve had a couple of motor officers over the years,” but the fatal accident involving a SPPD motorcycle officer in the 1950s meant an end to the program, said Chief Gonzales.Subsequently, the city did have a three-wheel motorcycle used for parking enforcement until the 1960s.
Chief Gonzales said that he thinks that the addition of a motorcycle officer will improve traffic safety.“I’d like to give Sgt. Gary Marshall kudos for his work, mostly on his own time, on the grant and achieving it,” Chief Gonzales added.“Is this one of the positions,” now open on the SPPD that could later be lost if the grant is not refunded, asked Councilman Rick Cook.The SPPD would be hiring anyway, noted Chief Gonzales.The grant project is designed to provide community and school education programs as well as concentrated traffic enforcement, which is a service the SPPD has previously not been able to provide, according to the staff report.The motorcycle officer will be concentrating on crosswalks, bicyclists and speeding, among other duties. Bicycle rodeos, coordinating a high school seat belt challenge, conducting red light running enforcement campaigns and initiating a neighborhood speed alert program are also being considered for the new traffic emphasis assignment.



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