Video: New Motorcycles Will Hit The Streets For Traffic Officers

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It is the first day on the road with a new motorcycle for Corporal Alan Chavers.

“The motor division of the Tupelo Police Department is an integral part of working day to day traffic within the city.”

Tuscumbia, Alabama based Natchez Trace Harley Davidson lets the department trade in two older motorcycles for a new one.

The new motorcycles have new safety features, such as faring that protects officers’ hands from debris. Also, the handlebars are equipped with switches allowing officers to push a button and talk to dispatch, or other officers, without taking their hands off the handlebars.

“This motorcycle here now also is equipped with a USB port, that way we can charge cell phones, lap tops, we will soon get lap tops to put in our motorcycles, so that way if we are out on one side of the city and not able to get back quickly to do a crash report, we can do reports there on the scene,” Cpl. Chavers said.

The new models are a lot more maneuverable, which will help police in crowd control situations, and when providing escorts. The motorcycles will be here just in time for a big competition coming up in June.

“We’re going to D’berville, Mississippi, that is an annual event, for police officers, Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association, and all motor officers in Mississippi converge, we hone our skills, obstacles, timed obstacles, officers compete against each other,” Chavers said.

The other two new motorcycles should be delivered this week. With the new bikes, Tupelo’s motorcycle division has the same technology as cities such as Jackson , Hattiesburg and Biloxi.