Ozark, MO. -- The Ozark Police Department is enhancing its fleet with its first-ever addition of motorcycles. The Manteca, California Police Department donated three Harley-Davidsons to OPD for police operations. Manteca PD was no longer using the bikes as they shifted to a different police motorcycle, so those three Harley-Davidsons were transported to Ozark in mid-December. The bikes are already outfitted with the necessary emergency equipment and, after some updated markings, are ready to be used in Ozark.
"The bikes are in great condition, received regular service, and will be an asset to the Ozark Police Department's Traffic Enforcement Unit," said Ozark Deputy Chief of Police Derek Hill.
Adding motorcycles to the fleet enhances traffic safety in Ozark by improving traffic enforcement and providing the department with more tools to serve the community better. The police motorcycles will assist officers' mobility when responding to traffic incidents and allow officers to access areas a traditional police car would have trouble responding to. The Harley-Davidsons will allow officers to navigate traffic more efficiently, respond to traffic incidents more effectively, and hopefully avoid secondary crashes in response to other traffic situations. In 2022 and 2023, OPD investigated over 720 motor vehicle crashes.
The motorcycles will be assigned to the OPD Traffic Enforcement Unit, with one bike used exclusively for training and the other two on the road. Only motor-certified officers can ride them. Corporal David Bright, a master motorcycle instructor, will utilize a police motorcycle daily as the Traffic Enforcement Unit Supervisor and train other officers in the future to become motor-certified officers.
