Recently, there have been a lot of discussions surrounding the traditions of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) motorcycle officer. Many of these discussions have centered on the traditional CHP uniform, which hasn’t changed much over the years. The main reason for this is that the CHP uniform projects a professional appearance that's readily recognizable anywhere in the country and throughout the world.
But these discussions have led some to elicit a change in the law enforcement motorcycle uniform to a more modern, two-piece sport riding suit, with Kevlar weaves and impact armor, to increase officer safety. A few things to consider when looking at a riding suit over a traditional motorcycle officer uniform include the following.
- Can an officer perform their required duties as a sheriff, police or highway patrol officer, while wearing the riding suit?
- Does the riding suit elicit the public respect and recognition of a traditional uniform?
- Will the riding suit design be available for new motorcycle officers a few years from now, or will the fashion design change and the riding suit be discontinued?
- Fatigue, exposure and comfort are also concepts to be considered when selecting the uniform for a motorcycle officer.
- Another factor to consider is pride. A motorcycle officer who’s wearing a uniform that’s sharp and polished, while riding a motorcycle that’s clean and well maintained, will project confidence and pride that will enhance the professional image of the department. That motorcycle officer will also display a greater sense of officer safety.
Although a modern riding suit may protect a rider from abrasion-type injuries, no riding suit exists that will protect a motorcycle officer from a traumatic disabling injury, broken bones or death. The reality: The only two things that will protect the law enforcement motorcycle officer from serious injury or death are good judgment and continuous training.
Training & Good Judgment
During the fall of 2012, I received a call from a motorcycle officer trained by the CHP Academy’s Motorcycle Training Unit in 2007. The officer was on motorcycle patrol in his Southern California city and approaching a four-way intersection on a green light. The officer was clearing traffic to his left and right, when he saw a vehicle about to enter the intersection against a red light. The officer had downshifted prior to the intersection, noticed the errant vehicle as early as possible, and was able to accelerate through the intersection to avoid a collision. The officer credited his continuous training and good judgment in preparing him for this event.
Unfortunately, the civilian rider next to him wasn’t as well trained, and may not have known the importance of clearing an intersection, even on a green light. The rider, who was wearing a modern riding suit, with Kevlar and impact armor, was hit by the errant driver, and suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries.
Skills and good judgment will win out over even the best protective gear every time. Nothing will protect you better in a collision than not becoming involved in a collision.
CHP Traditions
The first tradition of the CHP motorcycle officer is good judgment. When a CHP officer applies to become a motorcycle officer, they submit a written application, listing any experience and background they believe has prepared them to be selected to attend CHP motorcycle school. The commander of the area where the CHP officer is assigned reviews the officer’s application and work history. The commander will then normally review the applicant’s background, solicit comments from the motorcycle supervisor, an Area Certified Motorcycle Training Officer (CMTO) or a senior motorcycle officer, and to determine if the applicant has demonstrated the good judgment required to become a motorcycle officer.
Once they have their commander’s approval, the officer will begin to work in the second tradition of the CHP motorcycle officer—training. The officer will practice, under the close scrutiny of a CMTO or senior motorcycle officer, before they’re enrolled in a future Motorcycle Enforcement Training Program (METP) course at the CHP academy. The METP is an enforcement school, not a motorcycle riding school. A rider will need to be proficient in riding the motorcycle before attending the school. The school will then concentrate on practicing and perfecting the skills necessary to be an enforcement rider. Prior to attending the METP course, the officer will have spent countless hours preparing, practicing cone patterns and various other skills exercises on a motorcycle. The officer will also spend many hours in the saddle, becoming completely comfortable with skills needed to ride a motorcycle.
METP Course
The METP course is one of the most demanding training courses performed at the CHP academy or any LE motorcycle academy. On average, only 55% of CHP academy students who attend the course are successful on their first attempt. The program starts out with very basic exercises, then moves quickly, increasing the intensity and the difficulty level. The course is divided into two parts and conducted over a two-week period.
The first week is conducted on a stripped down motorcycle, free of any lights, emergency equipment or fairing and saddle bags. During the first week, the student is introduced to precision cone patterns, braking exercises, collision avoidance exercises, cone weaves and column rides. Students being by following an instructor through a network at speeds of 20–25 mph and throughout the week increase their speeds up to 55 mph. The student will complete the first week by obtaining a qualifying time on a proficiency course.
The second week is conducted on a fully equipped enforcement motorcycle. The student repeats many of the exercises on the larger, heavier motorcycle. The student must qualify in collision avoidance and braking exercises and cone weave exercises, before they go out on the street. During the balance of the second week, the student will also participate in several skill development rides, including a night ride, shadowed by an instructor. The student will also conduct traffic stops and complete a tactical shooting exercise, before graduating from the METP Course.
Break-In Period
Once a student completes the METP, they will return to their assigned area, where they will be assigned to ride with a CMTO for 240 hours (30 days) to complete a field break-in. This break-in period is broken into three equal training periods.
The first period is conducted on surface streets, where the CMTO has ample opportunity to provide guidance, instruction and constructive criticism to the trainee. Generally, the pair doesn’t perform normal patrol duties, nor do they ride on the freeway or conduct any training at night during this first phase of training. During the second phase, the trainee will be introduced to freeway patrol and night enforcement riding. During the third phase, the trainee will normally start making enforcement stops and responding to calls.
Throughout the three training periods, the CMTO will continuously evaluate the student’s judgment, and provide constructive criticism and operational feedback.
Continuous Training
Associated with the tradition of continuous training, is maintaining skill levels. All CHP motorcycle riders will participate in dedicated motorcycle training days, at least once each quarter year, for as long as they ride motorcycles. The Quarterly Training Day will generally begin with the review of motorcycle collisions from throughout the state and a discussion of “near misses.” The reason for this review and discussion is to allow the officer to put themselves in a similar situation and think about how they would respond or react, and possibly keep themselves from being involved in a similar collision. The balance of the day will be spent on skill development exercises.
Additionally, a CMTO will conduct a quarterly ride along with the new riders during their first year on the motorcycle and an annual ride-along each year thereafter. All CHP motorcycle officers, including CMTOs, return to the CHP academy’s motorcycle school every other year for In-Service Training. There, riders have the opportunity to sharpen their skills and recertify as a departmental motorcycle rider.
In Sum
The selection process and skill development by California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers have led to one of the best motorcycle safety records in law enforcement. For the four-year period ending in 2011, the CHP averages more than 6 million miles per year, on approximately 400 motorcycles, and averages approximately 33–34 collisions per year. The numbers of collisions include everything from a parked motorcycle being struck by an errant driver, to unfortunately, two fatal collisions. That all equates to approximately 5.5 collisions per million miles ridden. For smaller departments that may not reach one million motorcycle miles in a year, the number of collisions is approximately .55 per 100,000 miles.
No one can deny that a modern riding suit, with Kevlar weaves and impact armor, will provide a rider with protection from abrasion-type injuries. In recent years, the CHP has adopted a motorcycle jacket with these features for patrol duty. However, protecting motorcycle officers from major disabling injuries comes from the oldest traditions of the California Highway Patrol. Those traditions are good judgment and a heavy emphasis on training and maintaining skills. These traditions have been proudly passed from one motorcycle officer to another and have continued to solidify the success of the CHP’s program.
Sergeant David Kinaan retired in 2012 as the supervisor of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy Motorcycle Training Unit. Sgt. Kinaan was an active member of the CHP for nearly 29 years and started riding enforcement motorcycles for the CHP in 1989. Sgt. Kinaan served in the Central Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Westminster and North Sacramento Areas before coming to the Academy’s Motorcycle Training Unit in 2008. The opinions expressed by Sgt. Kinaan are based on his experience and knowledge as a patrol officer, academy instructor and supervisor and don't necessarily reflect the official policies or procedures of the CHP.
