Several East Valley police departments are taking nighttime patrol officers off motorcycles. They will transition to cars for their own safety.
On Halloween, Chandler motorcycle officer Bryant Holmes was killed in a traffic accident. This is the most recent case of injury for officers on motorcycles.
The Chandler Police Department is in the process of reviewing nighttime motorcycle patrols, but plans to still use them in the DUI task force.
In Mesa, the department has decided to start transitioning officers to vehicles.
“We’re certainly not mothballing the program," Detective Steve Barry said. "It’s just a transition to use it more efficiently. And to when we are able to, and as much as possible, put those officers into a vehicle as opposed to on a motorcycle.“
Barry said motorcycle officers will still be used at night for special occasions.
“We are not completely saying that a Mesa police officer cannot ride a motorcycle at night," Barry said. "I think there will be specific occasions and other things where you will still see motorcycles at night. It just might not be an every-night-all-night situation."
Meanwhile in Gilbert and Scottsdale, the police departments have phased out night motorcycle officers.
