Decatur Has Motorcycle Cops?
March 12, 2009 | 8:52 amRus reports he saw a City of Decatur policeman on a motorcycle ticketing someone on Commerce this morning.
So, I join Rus’ refrain: Sweet! When did Decatur get motorcycle cops?!
Guess the city figured that a Scooter Cop wasn’t all that imposing. 
UPDATE: Rus points out this isn’t the first time Decatur has had a lawman on two wheels. The Police Dept’s time line notes motorcycle cops in both 1916 and 1933.
Decatur has had a “motor” for 3 or 4 months. They had an officer join the force who was trained and they have leased a bike to see how it goes.
Steve, sometimes you frighten me with your vast knowledge.
But do you have a picture?!
Sorry, no picture (you have to catch him when he’s not moving).
People with iPhones and other snazzy cameras. First one to snap a photo of our motorcycle cop earns bragging rights.
If I had DM t-shirts, you could have one of those too. But I don’t. For now.
Saw a motorcycle cop ticketing someone in the Watershed parking lot a few weeks back but thought nothing of it at the time. Looked like the violator got nabbed coming down the curve westbound on Ponce. If you want to stake out a photo spot to catch him in action, the patio outside the Grange might be a good place
Sorry … eastbound on Ponce
I’m thinking ElectraGlide in Blue, but on Ponce. “He’s a good cop, on a big bike, on a bad road…”
Be careful. He is looking for seat belt violations. He stalks the bank parking lots looking for people to not put on their seatbelts. When you are 50 yards out of the parking lot the blue lights come on and there is a shiny new ticket. I was only driving from Wachovia to Church street and he caught me before I put my belt on. He admitted to the stake-out. Buckle up, he’s looking.
not to make everyone roll their eyes, but c’mon its 2009! its a police-officer, not a policeman or a lawman! practically every decatur police car i see is driven by a woman! i’m trying to teach my daughter she can be anything she wants when she grows up, including a police officer and a firefighter (not fireman) and for that matter a mail-carrier. signed, the resident old skool feminist.
I saw him in the Friends Meeting House parking lot about three weeks ago. He appeared to nail the car behind me for speeding through the school zone by the Atlanta Avenue RR crossing.
Decatur PD could make a fortune ticketing people who make an illegal right on red from Paden Circle to East Lake despite the two signs.
Our friendly neighborhood motorcycle officer is currently pulling over speeders in the school zone on Clairmont. Just saw him setting up. 3:15 on 3/12/09.
Speeders? School zone?
Go get ‘em, Sparky!
WP mom…
Perhaps it should be Police Person? Or Fireperson? No, lets take it a step farther….how about “personhole cover”
Actually I agree with WPMom it’s a lot easier and much more professional to get into the habit of saying Police Officer and Firefighter — short, simple and no distinction necessary.
Two days ago I saw the Police Officer on motorcycle with his/her radar gun across from Glenlake Park, on whatever that street is…Geneva?…. catching speeders going north on Church St.
FM Fats, I have been soooo tempted to turn right on red onto Eastlake from Paden many times…but I’ve been busted in other places for doing that very thing, so I’m not gonna do it no matter how close to my bumper the driver behind me gets!
And on the school zone speeders, I swear they really could make a killing if they ticketed them on W. Howard….mostly they just park in the Friends School lot and yell at the speeders through their megaphones. I hope those crossing guards at Adair & W. Howard are getting hazard pay….
Scott….you took the words outta my mouth. Thief.
WPMom…isn’t there a difference between referring to the general population of police officers as “policemen” and calling a male police officer a “policeman”?
On one, I understand the criticism. On the other, I feel like we begin to PC ourselves into unnecessary corners.
Nick, will you buy me one of Scott and Kimberly’s Thundersnow shirts if I snag a pic?
not a criticism as much as a reminder that linguistics really do matter, at least in my house. i like to use language that allows my daughter to feel included in the world around her.
Linguistics do matter, which is why WPMOM and DM are both half right. This isn’t about political correctness. It’s about precision.
In descriptive writing, especially a news source like DM, “policeman” (when describing a male) is more precise than “police officer,” especially considering DM was trying to convey a good mental picture of who’s been riding up and down Ponce.
On the flip side, when describing a group of mixed gender or a group in generalized terms, “police officers” would be the way to go.
Accuracy and enlightenment are not mutually exclusive!
Speaking of that intersection, can someone explain why that light is on a loooooooong timer during slow times of the day when there is no traffic coming on East Lake, but it turns green via a sensor during rush hour when there are lots of cars coming down East Lake to get backed up? Makes no sense. Seems to me it should be the opposite.
This is just one of many Decatur lights that baffle me…
Thanks, Freak, but I prefer “Robberman”.