/////////////// IN ADDITION unit’s purpose.
DEFINE THE PURPOSE It’s critical to identify how your agency will use the motorcycles, such as for community relations; patrol; traffi c enforcement; special events; or a combination of all. Provide an outline for each topic (with supporting data if
it’s available) to measure each concern, and then respond with how the motors will assist in solving that problem. For example if traffi c crashes are a problem within your
jurisdiction you may lay the foundation for a Selective Traffi c Enforcement Program. Identity the top ten crash locations within your jurisdiction, including the day of week, time of day and crash cause. Then outline the blueprint on how the motors will be used to change or improve this costly concern to the agency and community. I also suggest that you contact the department’s fl eet manager
to identify associated costs with using patrol vehicles compared to a motorcycle, including purchase cost, maintenance and fuel expenses. If your agency sells or auctions your vehicles by mileage or time, consider the likely return value from the vehicle sale. Your fl eet manager should be able to provide quality information in your efforts to demonstrate the value of a police motorcycle.
POLICY AND/OR PROCEDURE A Policy explains what offi - cers can (and cannot) do, while a Procedure outlines how to complete an identifi ed task. For example the policy may state that, “Motorcycle offi cers
shall not engage in a vehicle pursuit,” while a procedure outlines the training requirements of the motorcycle offi cer. It’s possible that your agency uses both tools, so you should
submit a draft policy and a draft procedure for the motorcycle unit. You should have both documents in place prior to implementation.
THE FUNDING CHALLENGE Funding a motor unit is often the most challenging aspect of a proposal and, depending how your budget is designed, will dictate how you proceed. Funding is possible with proper planning and approval for
an upcoming fi scal year. Accurate requests are made for the vehicles and equipment and, if approved, you are well on your way. If your request is not approved then your proposal could be used to justify the expense for the following year’s budget. If your city, county or state will not consider your budget
request then look for other options, including: Law Enforcement Trust Funds – Depending on your location and the rules that apply, these funds can be used to launch a
14 THE MOTOR OFFICER™ | SPRING 2012
to incorporating the steps
in this article, another important way to seek approval for a motor unit is to reach out to your law enforcement partners and capture any and all material that will provide assistance while you develop your plan. As with all agency endeavors, begin by defi ning your motor
new project and purchase equipment. Grant Assistance – Seek any grant that will provide assis-
tance for your proposal. If your agency does not have a specifi c person authoring and submitting grants, recruit someone who can. Currently Harley-Davidson Motor Company sponsors grant writing for agencies to purchase new motorcycles. See
www.policegrantshelp.com for more information. Purchase vs. Lease – Departments that purchase their
motorcycles own the asset outright. The purchase option requires all funding be available up front. But because the agency owns the asset, they gain the benefi t of the residual value when they decide to retire the unit. When they decide to replace the unit, the agency gains the full value of the old unit from trade in, auction, or whatever the disposition process is for the agency. Leasing is another option that is popular with many agen-
cies. Leasing can be attractive to some agencies because a much smaller amount of funding is needed up front. This allows the payments to be spread over time in a very predict- able and consistent manner for budgeting purposes. But with leasing, the agency does not own the asset. So at the end of the lease term, the agency is retiring the unit when they turn it back in and beginning again with a brand new unit. In many cases, a lease may also contain a buy-out provision which does allow the agency to purchase the unit for a prear- ranged amount at the end of the lease term. While more common with leasing, both a purchase and
a lease may also include a service or maintenance plan that can cover the normal maintenance expenses. Depending on the agency’s specifi c situation regarding funding, budget and planned usage, a maintenance plan can be very benefi cial by providing predictability in expense budgeting and covering forgotten or hidden costs. Below is an estimate of what it would cost for one motorcycle offi cer using associated costs from the State of Florida:
SELECTION PROCESS Agencies might have a strict policy regarding selection and transfers to a specialized motor unit. However, whoever holds the position of a motor offi cer must possess the desire and commitment for the position and not
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