Pittsburgh, PA Police Department

The History of the Pittsburgh Police Department Motorcycle Unit

 The Pittsburgh Police Motorcycle unit entered its second century of service in the year 2010.  The motorcycle unit rides 2008 Harley-Davidson Electra Glides motorcycles.  There are thirty front-line motorcycles, along with five 2005 Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycles.  The Road King motorcycles serve as spares for the use of all officers when their assigned motorcycle is out of service for maintenance.  Each officer in the unit has a motorcycle assigned to him, and is responsible for the physical appearance and upkeep of the cycle, as well as scheduling all required maintenance.  Each officer has his name placed on the right side of the front fender, which serves as a great source of pride to the officer.  There is currently one lieutenant, three sergeants, and twenty-four police officers assigned to motorcycle duties.         

 First riding in the 1909, the motorcycle unit has been in continuous service since its inception.  Due to the harsh weather conditions of the Pittsburgh winters, officers ride during these months with use of sidecars.  When the fleet was replaced in 2008, the sidecar fleet was also updated.  The motorcycle unit currently possesses 30 2008 Harley-Davidson TLE sidecars.  Originally ordered white, the added graphics now match the black-and-white paint scheme of the motorcycle, and the “Pittsburgh Police” markings on the sidecar match the markings of the Pittsburgh Police cars and wagons.         

 During the most extreme days of winter, officers have ridden in sub-zero temperatures, and whatever snow and ice the season brings.  The ability to ride in these grueling conditions was tested during the winter of 2010 as seldom before.          

 In February 2010, an unpredicted winter storm dropped two feet of snow on the city within 24-hour period.  This was immediately followed by two more days of heavy snow.  In all, 40 inches of snow was on the roadway within three days.  During the month of February, the snowfall total set a new record.  At the end of the three-day snow event, the mayor declared a snow emergency.  Schools and universities cancelled their classes for the following week.           

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police was placed into emergency status.  All days off were cancelled, and officers were placed on 12-hour shift.  At the end of their regularly scheduled eight-hour shifts, all detectives were held over for four additional hours of uniformed duties.  As part of the snow emergency, a request for assistance was sent to the Pennsylvania National Guard.  During the public safety response to the snow emergency, each police station was assigned two National Guard HUMVEE’s with two soldiers in each vehicle.  Their mission was not to patrol, but to pick up any police officers who could not make it to their assigned call due to road conditions and then to drive then to that location.  In addition to those HUMVEEs assigned to support the police, each medic station had an ambulance HUMVEE assigned.  Their mission was the same, to transport medics to calls that their ambulance could not make it to.         

 During this time, officers assigned to the motorcycle unit report to work each day on their motorcycle.  All motorcycle officers were assigned to work from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Officers were assigned to traffic posts in the downtown Pittsburgh area to assist with the flow of traffic during both AM and PM rush hours.  Almost all of the four lane main streets downtown were plowed to permit one lane of traffic flow in each direction.  In-between these times, officers patrolled on their motorcycles to assist stranded motorist, and to handle accident scenes and any other traffic-related problems.  Motorcycle officers assist Public Works with snow on the main roadways.  Clearing of the roadways by snow plows was not possible in all locations because of abandoned cars.                 

During the time of the snow emergency, the conditions push both officers and motorcycles to the extreme of their abilities.  All assigned officers performed their duties in an exemplary manner.  Not only did the officers need to ride in the snow, but once plowed, many streets were left with a thick coating of ice that could not be scrapped off by the plows.  Also, the temperatures in the early hours of the shift were in single digits, and seldom went above twenty degrees.  In credit to their fortitude and dedication, not one shift was missed by any assigned officer, despite the physical demands that the conditions placed upon their body.  Also, in credit to the amount of time officers spend training on their motorcycle, not one officer was involved in an accident during the snow emergency.  As the emergency passed, officers were still faced with riding in another six weeks of snow and cold temperatures, although not to the extreme of early February.          

In the long and proud history of the Pittsburgh Police Motorcycle Unit, there have been countless times that the officers have risen to the occasion of difficult duties.  The mission completed by the current members of the motorcycle unit during the snow emergency of February 2010 will add to this proud history.

Photo provided by Ken S.
1923 Harley-Davidson Ad
1925 Harley-Davidson JD
1933 Harley-Davidson Model VL
Pittsburgh Police Officer Lloyd Epler around 1939
1958 Harley-Davidson Model G Servicar
Tersak and Page St, Patrick’s Day Parade 1995
1990 Harley Davidson Model FXRP
Don Page
Sgt. Taylor
James “RIP” Taylor Funeral
Jim Miles
Lt. Joe Tersak
2007 Pittsburgh Police Motor Units Group Photo
1/29/2009
2009 Ice Storm
Motor Officers with Super Trophy
C-87 with Stanley Cup

Information and Photos provided by the Pittsburgh, PA Police Department.