Local police officers competed in a regional rodeo Saturday — not on the backs of bucking broncos, but rather with department motorcycles.
Forty-four officers from local police units, including the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Park Police, Secret Service, Fairfax County and Montgomery County, rode at the National Police Motorcycle Rodeo at RFK Stadium in a variety of events, including a speed run course and a challenge ride.
Such rodeos aren’t all fun and games, said Sgt. Roy Russell of the Montgomery County Police. “They’re skill-builders,” Russell said. “The way we ride motorcycle is not the way the average citizen rides. We’re riding in tough conditions.
“We have to maintain a very high level of skills in order to reduce the possibilities of any accidents.”
Russell finished first place in four events. He said he has been competing in police motorcycle rodeos for almost 20 years, and takes advantage of regional competitions to discuss ideas and training methods with officers from other departments.
Motorcycles are important tools for police, since they allow officers to wend through traffic jams to arrive at an accident scene, or observe the streets while staying mostly out of sight.
Motorcycle units also let law enforcement officers present a friendlier face to the people they’re trying to protect.
“The children love to see the motorcycles; people like to see the motorcycles,” Russell said. “We’re kind of like the police ambassadors. They let us connect with the community.”
