| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6829 | 2009-08-28 | Statewide | State Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit Marks 87th Year |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent HEADQUARTERS - NEWS RELEASE– MEDIA INVITATION August 27, 2009 State Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit Marks 87th Year BATON ROUGE – For the past 87 years, the Louisiana State Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit has patrolled the highways of Louisiana keeping our citizens safe. As a tribute to this unique unit, State Police would like to invite the media to attend a photo session being held at State Police Headquarters tomorrow, August 28, 2009 at 10:00am. Thirty-six Louisiana State Police Motorcycle Troopers from across state will be present for this photo event. Originally started in 1922 as the Louisiana Highway Commission, what eventually became known as the Louisiana State Police was composed solely of motorcycle patrolman. The Louisiana Highway Commission was divided into 10 districts, eight of which were assigned one lone motorcycle patrolman each. The Baton Rouge district was manned with two motorcycle patrolman and New Orleans was manned with three. Two additional patrolmen cruised the main highways of the state. These 15 men and one Captain, who also served as superintendent of the force, patrolled the state’s 2700 miles of roads and watched over 102,000 motor vehicles in Louisiana. Patrolman personally owned their motorcycles and maintained them with a small allowance from the State. In 1932, the La Highway Commission became known as the Highway Patrol. Governor Huey P. Long used the motorcycle patrolman extensively as his bodyguards, who escorted him all over the state. In 1936, an act of the Louisiana Legislature created what is now known as the Louisiana State Police. Motorcycles were the primary means of transportation for patrolman up until this point, numbering over 40. By 1939, troopers in cars and on motorcycles were patrolling almost 2 million miles per year. This was the same year that State Police was divided into 8 “Troops”. The Louisiana State Police motorcycle patrol fleet eventually grew to 64 motorcycles. In 1948, the State Police motorcycle fleet numbered 36. The department began to rely more heavily on the automobile for patrol, and it was not long before State Police motorcycles were found only in New Orleans and other major metropolitan areas. Motorcycle patrol units were maintained throughout the 1950s. Governor Earl Long routinely used numerous State Police motorcycles for his motorcade as he traveled around the state. In the 1960s, State Police was utilizing cars, motorcycles, planes and helicopters for enforcement. Throughout its history, State Police has used Harley Davidson motorcycles for patrol. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the department switched briefly to Kawasaki motorcycles. Shortly thereafter, the motorcycle patrol program was temporarily disbanded. It wasn’t until 1997 under Governor Mike Foster’s Administration that a true motorcycle patrol unit was reformed and Harley Davidsons once again became the motorcycles of choice. Today there are 32 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycles patrolling the highways of Louisiana with 31 full-time motor troopers and 5 part-time motor troopers riding them. Currently, the State Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit is used for traffic enforcement, escorts, parades and other community events throughout the state. One of the most diversified units of State Police, the Motorcycle Patrol Unit is very involved with community events, which include public safety education and drug diversion. Besides patrolling the highways, motor troopers frequently can be found in local schools and daycares talking to children about bicycle safety, “stranger danger”, seat belt use, gun safety, and a variety of other topics. They also work closely with city police departments and sheriff’s offices throughout the state for special events, traffic control and dignitary escorts. One of the priorities of the State Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit is aggressive safety and speed enforcement on our highways, especially in and around school zones. These troopers routinely focus on special enforcement such as insurance checkpoints and speed reduction details in areas where speed-related crashes are the most prevalent. “We are proud of the history and tradition of our Motorcycle Patrol Unit,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent; “but more importantly, we are proud of the Troopers who go to work on their motorcycles every day and exhibit the professionalism and courtesy that the public has come to expect. Our Motorcycle Patrol Unit not only plays a vital role in traffic enforcement, but also serves the public in a multitude of special roles, all with the goal of providing service, protection and public safety education to our citizens.” Contact Information: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Headquarters Office: (225) 925-6202 markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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