Greeting everyone and happy Wednesday!
So, today while checking my email I ran across an article posted from the Naugatuck Patch titled: “Naugatuck Headed to a Budget Referendum; Petitioners Angered at Tax Increase” and after browsing the article I did something I normally do not ever do…. I read the comments … Now, I normally do not read the comments because I have found that they are usually chock full of mis-information and false accusation…. Well, what I found today – unfortunately was …. Well, …. no different!
A responder to the article simply named “SKIDLEE” stated the following:
“So why does the Naugatuck police need a 30 K Harley Davidson? What’s this used for??? 2 parades during the year. And then the officer takes it home to ride for fun? This is the typical spending in this small town with big budget that needs to change!”.
So, I’m not going to get into the whole political “budget / referendum” thing here – but I will respond to this particular persons accusations and use it as a point to show what I have seen in the past with these types of comments. – First off – let me offer my free advice of watching what you take as fact from anyone throwing a comment out on a forum such as a news agency’s comment string… particularly if that person is only known by one name!... again - free advice, take it or leave it!!
Second – let me address the accusation as this is “right in my wheel house” as I rode the Department motorcycle for number of years and I am very familiar with the history of the NPD motor program;
FACT - The current NPD motorcycle is the ONLY motorcycle owned by the NPD.
FACT – The current NPD Motorcycle is a 1999 Harley Davidson Road King that was purchased new by the NPD in 1998.
FACT – The current NPD Motorcycle has been the ONLY street motorcycle (we also had a dirt bike for number of years that has since been decommissioned for several years) utilized by the NPD over the past 15 years
FACT – The Current NPD Motorcycle has been operated by only Harley Police Certified Riders over its lifetime. This is grueling nationally recognized police certification course that fails out close to half of those police officers that try to obtain it. That said, there have been eight officers assigned to the NPD Motor Patrol over this bikes life time at the NPD – three active and five of which are now retired (One of which is yours truly – the attached pic is from when I was assigned as the NPD motor officer which was the best assignment of my career thus far – you can tell by the s
mile on my face!!) – my point being… Not just anyone gets to ride this bike, that privilege is truly earned!
FACT - The current NPD motorcycle has had routine upkeep performed over the past 15 years to keep it running and looking great, anyone who has owned a Harley Davidson knows the TLC that must be put into these machines to keep them running and looking good as they age. This work is many times done by the assigned motor officers that have taken great pride in cleaning and maintaining this bike on their own time. The current bike has had some changes over the past few years including a switch from strobe lights to LED about six years ago and a switch of its decals over this past winter to match it up with the current design used on the NPD cruisers.
FACT – The Naugatuck PD utilizes the current motorcycle on a daily basis during the warm weather months, although due to considerably less visibility of the motorcycle at night, it is usually swapped out for a cruiser after dark. Officer Nick Kehoss is the current officer assigned to this detail, and he does an excellent job of keeping this bike running and looking great while using it on routine patrol in his district on evening shift.
FACT – The current NPD motorcycle is used year round for parades, funerals, escorts and other special events throughout the year…. Anyone that has had an escort done by the motor realizes the value of this special tribute … a great many of these are done in not so great weather conditions!!
FACT – The NPD motor officer DOES NOT nor has it ever been assigned as a “take home vehicle”. It has however been approved to be taken home on occasion by assigned officers for thorough cleanings prior to events and maintena
nce reasons. The NPD motor has NEVER been authorized to be used “just for fun” or personal use, again the right to ride this machine is earned and taken very seriously by those who make the assignment… PERIOD!!
So I think I have adequately answered the accusations made by “SKIDLEE” – I have no idea where the false accusations were made or why – it could be because the bike has recently had new decals applied or that it has been kept immaculately cleaned and looking brand new over the years, but I can guarantee you that the NPD Motorcycle is not new (… much less costing $30,000) and that program is not overfunded! In fact, it is only through a series of dedicated motor officers that have allowed this 15 year (plus) motorcycle to continue to operate over the years – they have undoubtedly stretched the boroughs money as far as could be expected to keep this very respected and honored program running over the past 15 years.
Thank you for listening !!!
Lt. Bryan Cammarata
NPD Motor Officer / Administrative Lieutenant