Canonsburg police receive motorcycle
For the first time in six decades, Canonsburg Police Department has a motorcycle in its fleet of vehicles, thanks to a donation by a borough business that specializes in motorcycles and off-road vehicles.
The keys to a 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 adventure bike were presented Wednesday to police Chief Al Coghill, courtesy of Brad, Blake and Liam Barnes of Barnes Bros. Motorcycles and Off-Road of Canonsburg.
Blake Barnes said his family had been thinking of doing something for the department, but watching the funeral procession for fallen borough Officer Scott Bashioum pass the door to their West Pike Street business confirmed it.
“This is dedicated to the fallen officer who lost his life right up the street from us,” Barnes said. “We really appreciate what they do for the community, putting their lives on the line.”
“We’ve had many reasons to call them in the past, including a burglary at our business,” he added. “They are fearless.”
Coghill said he never considered having a motorcycle for the department until he was approached by the Barnes family.
“It will be quite useful,” the chief said. “This town has a lot of events like the July 4th parade, the Bavarian Oktoberfest and parades, so it will come in handy. Plus, we can use it for traffic enforcement.”
R.T. Bell, council president and retired police chief, said he can remember growing up in the borough when the last motorcycle rider on the police force, Lt. Michael “Pistol Pete” Smith, would try to sneak up on him and his friends as they played after dark.
“He was the last officer to ride a motorcycle, and that was back in the 1950s,” Bell said.
Bell said Smith was still on the force when he joined in 1967, but the motorcycle was gone.
Mayor David L. Rhome said he has always been a supporter of getting a motorcycle for the department but never had the finances to purchase one.
“We really appreciate the Barnes family and their suppliers for the bike and outfitting it,” Rhome said. “It is really a great tool for the department.”
Veteran police Sgt. Don Cross applied for the motorcycle officer position.
“I’ve been riding for 40 years, since I was 5 years old,” Cross said. “I got a license to ride a motorcycle before I got my driver’s license.
“I plan to ride it as much as possible when I am on patrol,” he added.
The sergeant said he offered input while the bike was being outfitted. The adventure-type motorcycle was chosen because of its maneuverability and low maintenance costs.
“It gets very good miles to the gallon and has low maintenance costs,” Barnes said.
The bike is totally customized, in consultation with Whelan, the manufacturer of the emergency lighting, which helped adapt the bike for use by police, Barnes said. The staff at Barnes was able to get the motorcycle detailed and equipped for its debut in last week’s Fourth of July parade.
In September, Cross will be going through an intensive, 80-hour training program put on in Collier Township by members of the Pittsburgh police motorcycle unit.
“It is a grueling course training,” Cross said.