Police Motorcycle Training Underway at Bass River Beach

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Officers with the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Motorcycle Unit have begun practicing their riding skills at the Bass River Beach parking lot in South Yarmouth.

SOUTH YARMOUTH – Visitors to Bass River Beach in South Yarmouth will hear the sound of  motorcycles through next Friday.

The Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council Motorcycle Unit, which is made up of officers from the Cape and the Islands, is conducting its annual training in part of the parking lot.

The unit is used throughout the year at events like funerals, motorcycle rides, parades and escorts.

The training offers the officers a chance to refresh their skills through a coned course to practice tight turns.

Harwich patrolman Neil Nolan says getting a chance to practice is important.

“You can be a natural. You can be proficient but if you don’t use it you lose it,” Nolan said. “Riding is tough enough anywhere on a motorcycle. Throw in Cape Cod, tourists, sand and all the busy people and you really need to up your game.”

Nolan said it is tough doing the job as a police officer and always paying attention to surroundings along with riding at the same time.

“They weigh 900 pounds. We’re doing tight maneuvers within an 18 foot circle,” he said. “That gives you the opportunity to be able to turn around in the street instead of having the bike fall on you. It’s embarrassing and you can get hurt.”

Nolan said cutting down on high insurance and liability expenses can be important for local departments.

The Harwich police department, like many on the Cape, only has one police motorcycle. Nolan said he is on patrol alone.

“So we need to work together on how to ride in a group, side by side, and what to do and when you need to do it when you are doing these events,” he said.

Civilian Victor Petkauskos, who owns the Victor-Brandon Corporation on Nantucket, also helps train the officers throughout the week.

“He’s very enthusiastic. He likes the challenge of this type of riding,” Nolan said.

Petkauskos provides an extra set of eyes for the unit to help Nolan, who is the only certified instructor on the team.

Petkauskos has also donated a few bikes to the unit which Nolan said is a huge help.

“It gets more of out on events,” he said.

The beach and the parking lot will remain open to the public during the training which will be held on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The public is invited to watch the training, meet the officers and check out the motorcycles and safety equipment.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter