From left, clockwise: Mounted Position, Seeking Cover, Fairing Hits In order to follow my training program, I placed the
motorcycle in three different positions: first, immediate threat with the officer still mounted; second, unknown risk vehicle stop; and third, motor down For many years the knowledge gained from this train- ing was beneficial; however, with Harley-Davidson®
police
motorcycles having the largest of the police motorcycle market share in the United States, the testing on the KZ was no longer relevant. Therefore I needed a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle to re-create the same style of testing. Harley-Davidson Motor Company understood the value
of this testing and the potential knowledge it could provide to law enforcement officers nationwide and donated a 2009 Harley-Davidson®
Electra-Glide® motorcycle for testing. In October of 2011 at the Florida Public Safety Institute
(FPSI) in Havana, FL Motor Officer Mike Rodes from Florida State University PD, Captain Al Wofford from the Florida Highway Patrol and I began testing. Staff members from FPSI, Tallahassee PD and Florida State University PD observed and participated in this testing. To ensure we accu- rately documented all shots, Jimmy Garbarino from Florida State University/Seminole Productions donated his time and captured this event on video using two different cameras. Stephanie White from FPSI took photographs. The motorcycle was placed in the same three positions
that I use in my tactics course and that I used in 1997 with the KZ1000. A total of 56 rounds were fired ranging from a 115 grain .9mm to an AK-47 using ball ammo, and six rounds penetrated to the officer. However, if the officer was using C & C in the recommended manner, no rounds would have struck the officer.
After numerous rounds were fired and as fuel was exiting
the right side of the tank, a spark from one of the rifle rounds fired into the engine block ignited the fuel. Due to the results of all three tests, I’m unable to verify that if you are involved in this type of deadly force encounter, that the fuel will not ignite or remain as a liquid. Actual results may vary, but any- thing is possible and in our profession we must be prepared! Rifle rounds do have the potential to skip and strike a
possible target. If I had a choice of C & C that consisted of a concrete barrier, engine block of a vehicle, or a motorcycle, I would select my location in that order. This information is for the PMO who has no other C & C option and the only item available is the motorcycle. The staff at FPSI understood the value and after we completed the training, placed this motorcycle onto their C & C course along with other realistic items to provide relevant training to law enforcement officers. For 15 years I have instructed a two-day tactical course
for PMOs which includes live fire while using the motorcycle for cover, and force-on-force scenarios using Simunitions FX marking cartridges. Instructors, you owe this type of training to your officers.
Simply riding cone patterns every training day could be set- ting your officer’s up to fail.
Ride well and be safe!
Jim Polan is a 31-year veteran of law enforcement and retired as a captain of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and then retired as a major with the Seminole Tribe of Florida Police Department.
SPRING 2013 | THE MOTOR OFFICER™ 17
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