An annual California police motorcycle skills competition drew almost 500 officers to a sun-drenched parking lot along the Huntington Beach sand to compete for top-rider honors, train on patterns of neatly arranged orange cones and share a few moments of levity about their specialized patrol work. The Orange County Traffic Officer's Association hosted the annual police motorcycle skills competition , which nearly doubled in attendance from a year ago.
Motorcycle Skills Competition
The Costa Mesa Police Department's motor unit huddles to recount the day's training and competition.
Two deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department mount their Honda ST1300 cycles, after the day of training and competition.
Members of the Oxnard Police Department's motor unit prepare to leave the event on their BMW R1200 RT-P bikes.
Officer Erik Himert of the Huntington Beach Police Department tests himself in the "slow box," a competition that recognizes the rider with the slowest time. Without putting down a foot, the officer must maneuver his bike through a taped-off box that's about 30 feet long and 3 feet wide. Winning the competition requires skilled use of the clutch and accelerator.
Motor officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department attended the event for the first time. They are (L. to R.) Bob Steele, Mike Sahlman and Ward McDaniel. Steele tested an on-cycle video system from Motocam360, while practicing cone patterns, later saying it would bolster his court case when traffic violators claim he made statements he didn't make.
Several officers personalized their bikes, such as Irene Gomez of the Santa Ana Police Department. A "Lady Rider" sticker is clipped to her notepad, along with an iPod integrated with the bike. A second sticker not visibile here read "Yes, it's fast. No, you can't ride it."
In another "top gun" event, officers freeze their bikes in space, waiting for each other to drop a foot. Their clutch- and accelerator-control skills can be impressive to watch.
Michael Concha of the Inglewood Police Department prepares to run through a test pattern of cones. Officers were given 10 points for each of eight cone patterns with 80 set as the goal for a perfect score. Points were deducted, if the rider touched a cone, put a foot down or dropped the bike.
Motor patrol deputies from the Riverside County Sherrif's Department attended the event. This group is assigned to the Moreno Valley substation.
Two Pasadena Police Department officers compete against one another in the "top gun" event. The highly skilled riders can stop their bikes and balance without putting a foot on the ground. The "follower" in this duel couldn't maintain balance.
An officer takes a sharp turn while running through a cone pattern. Judges marked off points for hitting a cone, putting a foot down or dropping the bike. Two judges stood on either side to watch for infractions.
Deputies with the Orange County Traffic Officers' Association organized the annual motorcycle rodeo and skills competition in Huntington Beach, Calif. One deputy from each city helped plan the event. Deputy Brad Blakely is fourth from left.
Two officers duke it out during the "top gun" portion of the competition. Officers circle each other and try to get the other rider to make a mistake.
Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Depatment were well represented at the event.
Officers form a two-by-two line while preparing to run through the test patterns of cones. The event began shortly after 9 a.m., and officers tested their skills of maneuvering bikes that weighed between 700 and 900 pounds through tight spaces and around narrow turns.
Four motor officers from the Tustin Police Department rode their Harley-Davidson Road Kings during the event.
A sea of police bikes are lined up in the parking lot at Huntington State Beach. Nearly 500 motor officers from across the state brought the bikes to the competition and training event.
The "top gun" event is structured as a follow-the-leader competition; the second officer entering the course attempts to duplicate the maneuvers of the "leader." A winner is declared, when one rider knocks over a cone, rides "out of pattern," puts down a foot or drops the bike.
Irene Gomez of the Santa Ana Police Department was one of about five female motor officers who attended the event. Gomez has been assigned to the motor unit since February.
One officer personalized his bike with a picture of his two children. Officers can usually add small stickers, photos and accessesories to their bikes that are within departmental policy.
A pair of whiteboards show the 64-rider bracket of competitors for "top gun" status. Officers who won riding duels moved on to the next round. Eventually Brian Cline from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department emerged as the top rider.