Motor Cops and Gear...

[rideserotta]

well...I am glad that OSHA isn't wise to this, or they would have been federally mandated to be wearing more protective gear a long time ago....

I'm surprised OSHA hasn't been all over this. They try to dictate everything else.

[lawbreaker]

L.A City coppers ride Kawi's, Harleys and BMW's....

They've recently gone to some full face helmets ( which are a preference i believe but most still wear the SpaceBalls stlye helmet)..

some wear full tilt leather jackets.. but no lower body protection. I talked to Mike (Kushitani Leathers) about it and he was thinking about making an inquiry to a Dept or two about protective gear....

Since its a City or County entity he'd deal with ( for inspection, approval and all that other nonsense) I imagine it would take a bit to get past all the typical political red-tape to get gear approved..

It's not just a matter of "Hey that stuff offers great protection, Let's wear it" - Sux but true

[rideserotta]

The other thing that will keep cops out of full gear is budget. Municipalities aren't exactly flush with cash and I can't imagine them making this a priority if they've been riding naked forever.

[zooom]

The other thing that will keep cops out of full gear is budget. Municipalities aren't exactly flush with cash and I can't imagine them making this a priority if they've been riding naked forever.

budget doesn't play as big a factor as you think...maybe not in all municipalities...but in most, cops pay for their own uniforms and equipment.

[ducatiz]

Im all for gear. Even if its 90 out im in full leathers, gloves, boots etc.

I am wondering if the lack of gloves (or use of fingerless gloves) may have something to do with being able to effectively manipulate and operate their weapon?

I think it might be tough to work a firearm with my held phantoms on.

Plenty of options for gloves.  Plus they have "quick release" designs which are velcroed on and rip off easily.

Seems to me they should be using these.  Flip up full face helmets, gloves and better boots at the minimum.  Ballistic jacket.  Maybe not regular riding pants, but it seems they could make some kind of armored slacks.

[sbrguy]

I'm surprised OSHA hasn't been all over this. They try to dictate everything else.

Osha won't be over all this, as you well know cops are the only ones that police cop behavior, so as long as they want the lighter more comfortable gear tehy will have it.

i would guarantee if you poll moto cops 99% of them would say they are fine with the current gear and dont' want to have anyone tell them what to do, and probably feel they don't need anymore gear because "its too hot with the other gear on" as habliam said the bullet proof vest is already too hot now more gear will make it stiffling.  and they would probably also say "i'm a better rider than any other regular street rider why do i need more gear on?"

[zooom]

  and they would probably also say "i'm a better rider than any other regular street rider why do i need more gear on?"

and if any Motors cop said that to me, I would ask how they defend against or are immune from the non-attentive-left-turning-into-you-or-your-path-soccer-moms or some variance thereof...no matter how good of a rider you are, it is always an external circumstance out of your control that you have to be vigilant of which is hard to do when your job of doing that is being taxed out my your attention to everything else by function...

Osha won't be over all this, as you well know cops are the only ones that police cop behavior, 

police-ing their behavior isn't what OSHA does....safe work environment regulations and standards for to protect workers from themselves and incidents while performing their jobs is exactly what OSHA does best in regulating and writing big fines for...so yes, it is a potential for them to stick their federal nose into -> http://www.osha.gov/index.html

[ducatiz]

and if any Motors cop said that to me, I would ask how they defend against or are immune from the non-attentive-left-turning-into-you-or-your-path-soccer-moms or some variance thereof...no matter how good of a rider you are, it is always an external circumstance out of your control that you have to be vigilant of which is hard to do when your job of doing that is being taxed out my your attention to everything else by function...

show them the articles above and ask them how many riders crash into other riders...

[arai_speed]

I think that they, like anyone else should wear what gear they choose.

+1

[Triple J]

well bullshit rescinded then, on the west coast its all BMW's and KZ1000's before that. harleys havent been in the fleets since the 70s at least.

In this part of the West Coast (Seattle), local cops (Seattle PD) ride Harleys. Summer gear is CHIPs inspired...winter varies, but some wear the A'Stitch suits. Oakland PD also ride Harleys.

King County Sheriff and Hwy Patrol all seem to wear A-Stitch suits and full-face flip-up helmets though, and ride Honda STs...or BMWs.

[ducatiz]

I think that they, like anyone else should wear what gear they choose.

damn free-love hippy fairy

[SacDuc]

I think if I was as highly trained and most moto cops I would feel better about wearing less gear. I personally would still wear full gear and would recommend to everyone else that they do too. But riding expertise (i.e. - the ability to avoid accidents in the first place) is a good piece of armor to have. And moto cops tend to have that in droves.

sac

[Mother]

It probably was. Aerostitch makes gear specifically for police:
http://www.policesuit.com/

It seems that there is a trend towards the euro 'style' (my words for a lack of better) and away from the CHiPs look in the states. This goes for gear and bikes. I'm seeing more metric bikes for US police as well.

I've asked this question in the past - and the intimidation/approachability was referenced as reasoning for open faced helmets. Not a very sturdy argument IMO, as modulars let the public see plenty of the officers face, and offer more protection than a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet. Plus some sport goodies like a integrated flashlight.

So it seems to me that there is a trend, how ever slow it might be towards the European example in the US   

out here

State wears regular uniform gear and County wears a 'stitch

[DRKWNG]

I think that they, like anyone else should wear what gear they choose.

Oi you!!  Take that crazy outside of the box thinking the hell out of here.

[Desmostro]

...
I think it would make officers safer and possibly more respectable in terms of ... Officers of departments in Europe certainly wear more gear than most motors cops here and seem to be as effective in doing their jobs as here.

I don't think it's the gear that that makes a cop friendly and helpful looking, it's the attitude and the history.
To your point about Europe, cops stand on corners at the ready with heavy body armor, automatic weapons, finger at rest against trigger, cigarette dangling, and the coolest look on Earth. Somehow they don't intimidate though they look like they could take out a gang of 12 in a heart beat.
No one hesitates to approach them and ask directions, get a light or just shoot the shit.

They tend to ignore petty BS like speeding 10 over and pick pockets. They are after terrorist, violent criminals and the like.