Daily Press News Editor
MONTROSE — There’s no bike quite like it.
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In fact, according to one of two Montrose Police officers who will soon be conducting traffic patrols astride the V-Strom, this bike is the only one of its kind.
“Nobody’s ever outfitted one for police use,” Officer Scott Johnston said Wednesday, while showing off the recently acquired Suzuki to members of the media. “This is the first of its kind, as far as I know, in the U.S.”
The specially-fitted motorcycle is the result of years of planning — and the generosity of Davis Service Center of Montrose, which donated the $7,000 bike.
“It’s been five years in the making,” Johnston said.
Glenn Davis, the service center’s owner began the process of getting the city a motorcycle for traffic enforcement all those years ago, his son, Lincoln said.
“This year, it just finally went through. It’s just giving back to the community and growing awareness of motorcycles on the street. The police department does a lot for us. We wanted to give something back to them.”
Johnston said the donation pushed the possibility of a city motorcycle cop to the front burner. “The city couldn’t say no,” he said.
Montrose spent about $9,000 outfitting the bike for police use. Electrical work was done locally by John Cryer at iLink.
Graphics were furnished by Montrose Signs.
The Suzuki sports Pelican-brand cases on the back, which in addition to gear storage, will afford Johnston and fellow officer Chris Worthington more protection in the event of a crash.
The wireless radio system is a time-saver, Johnston added. “We can get off the bike without having to unplug anything. That’s pretty new for a police bike.”
The radar system works in any direction and — speeders beware — the bike is easy to conceal.
The bike will be used for traffic enforcement and bike path patrol and was chosen in part for its off-road capabilities.
“It’s real versatile for that kind of stuff,” Johnston said, later adding the city might consider expanding motorcycle patrols if the current system proves effective.
“I think it’s going to be a great tool for us,” Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said. “We have several miles of bike paths. Most of these are patrolled very little and by bicycle. We believe we’ll be able to patrol more of them and possibly be making our parks and trails a lot safer.”
Chinn said the motorcycle is part of a traffic unit that began this month and includes enforcement, accident response and accident investigation.
Motorcycle patrols are slated to start during the first week of June, Johnston said. Before that time, he and Worthington, both longtime cyclists, will undergo training with a retired motorcycle officer from the Denver area.
Both officers said they are looking forward to their new duties.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Worthington said.
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