BPD starts motorcycle patrol

It's not every day that the Harley-rider, revving his engine and wearing dark-tinted, aviator sunglasses, is a police officer. But this is exactly the type of motorcycle rider the Bloomington Police Department envisions.\nMayor Mark Kruzan formally introduced BPD's new Motorcycle Patrol Program at a press conference Thursday in front of city hall. \nThe new program, outfitted with two 2006 Harley-Davidsons, hopes to increase police visibility and accessibility. \nBecause the bikes are smaller, their mobility will allow them to better negotiate traffic jams, said Police Chief Mike Hostetler.\nCouncilman Mike Diekhoff said that one of the most common complaints citizens have is of cars speeding through neighborhoods. The motorcycles will be used primarily to mediate the problem because they are faster and more manageable in Bloomington's small streets than squad cars.\nPolice officers on motorcycles are also more accessible than police officers in squad cars, said Hostetler.\n"Community studies talk about getting officers out of cars where they're blocked in and getting them out on the street," Hostetler said. \nThe motorcycles are leased from the Harley-Davidson of Bloomington for $500 a year, with a one-time cost of $7,500.\nBPD plans to have a total of six officers working in shifts on the motorcycles soon, Hostetler said.