Palmer troopers set to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles

PALMER -- Two shiny new rumbling Harley-Davidson motorcycles are part of a new program by the Alaska State Troopers DUI Enforcement Team in Palmer. Three troopers, David Herrell, Michael Wooten and Troy Shuey, recently completed a two-week police motorcycle training program with the Anchorage Police Department and are scheduled to begin riding the cycles on June 4.

The troopers will don leather gear, heavy boots and eye protection as they ride atop the new Road King motorcycles. The riders will also be equipped with specially designed helmets, installed with police radios. According to AST Information Officer Greg Wilkinson, the troopers are hoping that the highly visible motorcycles will act as deterrents to those who might otherwise consider drinking and driving. After two years, the program will be evaluated to determine its effectiveness and whether or not it should continue.

While the motorcycle troopers' daily activities primarily entail DUI enforcement in Palmer and the Mat-Su, they are also slated for traffic enforcement along with other special assignments, including the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival, Girdwood Forest Fair and the Fourth of July celebration in Seward.

Director of the Alaska State Troopers, Col. Julia Grimes, was on hand Tuesday for the unveiling of the new motorcycles at the House of Harley-Davidson in Spenard.

"Traffic enforcement is one of our core missions, and these motorcycles will allow us to utilize resources that we might not otherwise have had access to," Grimes said.

According to Wilkinson, the motorcycles are much more efficient than regular patrol cars at getting through congested traffic.

"They are also very effective in catching up with people who are speeding," Wilkinson said. "They are quite fast and also less expensive to operate."

Despite their advantages, the new motorcycles also have their limitations. The new units will not be used in the dark and they will probably not be used during the winter months, unless weather permits. Wilkinson also said that a patrol car will have to respond any time an offender needs to be transported.

The two motorcycles will be used alternately between the three trained motorcycle troopers.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.