Harley-Davidson Returns to Duty After 80-Year Absence
Thanks to a donated Ultra Classic, Harley-Davidson will once again patrol the streets of Moorestown, New Jersey.
In the small town of Moorestown, New Jersey, a Harley-Davidson police bike last patrolled the streets way back in 1937. But thanks to a donated 2018 Ultra Classic, the Moorestown Police Department is set to ride again. A local family gifted the bike to their local P.D., and avid motorcyclist Ptl. George Hubel couldn’t be more excited.
Despite his hobby, this will mark the first time Hubel has ever ridden a motorcycle as an officer in his 24 year career. He recently completed a two week training course in Philadelphia, which he admits was a ton of fun. But despite that and his lifelong obsession with Harley-Davidson, that didn’t help with the jitters of riding on the job for the first time.
“It was a little scary the first three days,” Hubel admitted to the Moorestown Patch, a local news outlet. “You’re in the public eye. Everyone’s looking at you. Your head’s on a swivel. People are asking you questions. A car will pull up next to you and someone will just start asking questions. You’re very interactive with the public.”
But as he’s quickly learned (and Harley-Davidson riding police have known for decades), there are certain advantages that come with patrolling on a bike. “When the streets get congested, the motorcycle is more nimble, it’s able to move around better,” he said. Of course, the bike won’t see a ton of use in the frigid New Jersey winters. But it’ll certainly be out and about when warmer weather arrives.
The brand new Harley-Davidson has already participated in the town’s annual Lions Club Parade. And it participated in the Fallen Heroes Wreath Program, which places wreaths at the grave sites of fallen police officers. So we can confidently say that the Moorestown bike unit has already made its mark. Even if it took 80 years to make a comeback.
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