Motorcycle Uses

In 2012 the Joplin Police Department received and put into service four new 2012 model Harley Davidson Road Kings. Since 2007 the Joplin Police Department has been using this make and model for motorcycle duties. There are currently six certified operators for the four motorcycles, and one instructor.

The motorcycles average about 9,000 miles per year per motorcycle for a total of about 36,000 miles ridden during the year. This past year we also started to assist with escorts more frequently, and averaged four escorts per week.

National Law Enforcement Memorial Week

For the second year of the partnership with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #27, we were able to send two officers with their motorcycles to Washington D.C. This was for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Week, which has become an annual event and is a huge honor for our officers to be able to attend. Officer Jeff Taylor from Riverside Police Department was added to the memorial wall this year. Officer Taylor died in Joplin, Missouri helping with our tornado recovery efforts from a lightning strike he received just days after the 2011 tornado.