ABC-7 Listens 04.10.16

rick cabrera examines that question in abc-7 listens. first it was officer adrian arellano. then a little less than a year later officer david ortiz. in both cases the motorcycle officers were hit and killed while on duty. ainge wants to know why in light of those tragedies … the el paso police department and sheriff’s office have a fleet of motorcycles. “everyone know that motorcycle operators historically have a much higher risk of getting injured or killed, hence much higher insurance premiums for them. “is it necessar and effective in today’s police force? are we putting police officers on motorbikes in danger? “i’ not sure it’s worth having a motorcycle fleet for police officers or sheriff’s deputies.” first i reached out to police department spokesman sergeant enrique carrillo. he admits motorcycles are more hazardous but officers go through extensive training before being certified. “each regional command’s traffic section … has a compliment of motor units whose primary task is traffic enforcement and accident investigations. “motorcycles as police vehicles serve as a very effective and efficient means for that purpose as they are more maneuverable on city streets and on the highway. “some assignments i police work, such as, motors, swat, bomb squad, comsar , narcotics, and others are inherently more dangerous but are necessary to accomplish the mission of the el paso police department.” i then reached out the sheriff’s department and assistant chief tom whitten. he said there are 10 harley davidson motorcycles in the traffic division and … “these are highly trained officers skilled in the operation of motorcycles and the assignment is voluntary. “in short, motorcycles can ge to areas in specific situations that cars simply can’t and serve specific purposes that vehicles cannot.” so it sounds like the motorcycles are here to stay. so, let’s do our part and be extra cautious around law enforcement on motorcycles. rick cabrera. abc-7 listens. water vapor imagery shows our next upper low moving into the northern baja coast this morning…with a lead shortwave trough bringing little more than a band of higher clouds west of the rio grande. this low will weaken into an open wave as it moves along the motorcycles. rick cabrera. abc-7 listens. water vapor imagery shows our next upper low moving into the northern