N.C.P.D. Traffic Unit

MOTOR SQUAD

There are 319 police officers of the North Charleston Police Department. Only six are chosen to become a member of the Motor Squad.

Like all North Charleston Police Department Traffic Unit officers, motorcycle officers are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, providing escorts, and controlling traffic. Officers selected for assignment to the Motor Squad are required to become trained to operate the police motorcycle. The training lasts a minimum of eight weeks and is very demanding both physically and mentally. Motor Squad

Officers must learn to operate a 800+ pound motorcycle over multiple types of road surfaces, learn evasive and emergency driving techniques, be able to avoid hazards, detect violators and safely apprehend them. Officers are generally not required to have previous riding experience, but they must exhibit the abilities to be trained and must have the self disciplin above and beyond the average officer to be one of a select few to be a motor officer.

Once the officer has successfully completed the certification training, the officer will attend monthly training which is designed to provide the officer with opportunities to address needed updates in technical skills. All motorcycle officers are required to re-certify annually to maintain the high level of knowledge and skills needed to operate safely and effectively.

The North Charleston Police Department Motorcycle Squad has an outstanding safety record due to the high standards required in certification as well as in ongoing monthly training. The North Charleston Police Department Motor Squad is extremely proud to work very closely with surrounding agency motor squads both in training and on the street. Because of the continuous training and high standards expected from the motor officers who we work with and have in our squad, North Charleston Police Department, Summerville Police Department, and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office Motor Squads are some of the best motorcycle officers in the state and are likely the best example of what multi-jurisdictional cooperation can achieve.

The motor wing pin which the North Charleston Police officer wears is rich in tradition to numerous motor officers throughout the country. The winged wheel is made up of several parts each with it's own meaning. The wheel symbolizes mobility and the wings represent speed. Another version of the winged wheel incorporates an arrow which stands for precision or accuracy.

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THE CURRENT MOTOR SQUAD OFFICERS
The current Motor Squad officers are:
Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West, Cpl. S. Evans, Sgt. R. Dean, Pfc. J. Lawrence

The officers listed below have proven themselves to be capable of the rigorous standards required of a Police Motorcycle officer and are currently certified to operate a police motorcycle for the North Charleston Police Department. To maintain certification to operate a police motorcycle, North Charleston requires an officer to successfully complete a yearly recertification. The officers listed beloware currently recognized as police motorcycle operators.

Rick Dean
Steve Evans
Ryan Cato
Brian West
Todd Morgan
David Singletary
John Lawrence
A. McGauvran

There are a number of officers who have served the North Charleston police Department in the past as a police Motorcycle officer. The officers listed below were certified as a police motorcycle operator in the past however due to transfer, promotion, lapsed certification, or other means, they are not currently utilized as police motorcycle operators. Their dedication, determination, and hard work to achieve a police motorcycle certification should not go unrecognized.

Rick Keys
Kelly Arnette
Billy Brinson
Paul Dashnaw
Lee Girrard
Rhett Harris
Delmar Johnson
Al Kuechler
Steve Leonard
Harry Mowder
Bill Tolson
Kenny Wiliamson
John Wilson
Denver Clayton

MOTOR SQUAD EVENTS & AWARDS

3rd Annual Palmetto Police Motorcycle Skills Competition, North Charleston South Carolina June 2008
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Sgt. R. Dean, Sgt. M. Morgan, Cpl. S. Evans, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West, Pfc. J. Lawrence.
• Sgt. M. Morgan - 5th Place individual slow ride
• Pfc. J. Lawrence - Chad Rood award

2nd Annual Palmetto Police Motorcycle Skills Competition, North Charleston South Carolina July 2007
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Sgt. R. Dean, Cpl. M. Morgan, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West.
• Cpl. M. Morgan - 8th Place in Road King Expert Division, 4th Place Overall (of 64)
• Pfc.B. West - 2nd Place in Road King Intermediate Division

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Palmetto Police Motorcycle Skills Competition, North Charleston South Carolina July 2006
Motor officers attending event: Sgt. R. keys, Cpl. M. Morgan, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West, Pfc. S. Evans, Sgt. R. Dean

Jacksonville Police Motorcycle Skills Challenge, Jacksonville Florida October 2005
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Pfc. M. Morgan, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. A. McGauvran, Pfc. B. West, Pfc. S. Evans, & Pfc. J. Wilson.
• Pfc. J. Wilson - Second place in Road King Novice Class

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25th Annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition, Maryland September 2004
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. A. McGauvran, Pfc. B. West, Pfc. K. Arnette, Pfc. S. Evans, & Pfc. J. Wilson.

24th Annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition, Fairfax Virginia September 2003
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Cpl. R. Dean, Pfc. W. Brinson, Pfc. M. Morgan, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West.
• Pfc. R. Cato - 1st Place in Road King Novice Division
• Pfc. M. Morgan - 1st Place in Road King Intermediate Division, 3rd Place in Intermediate Overall & 1st Place in Challenge Run Obstacle Course
• Pfc. W. Brinson - 2nd Place in Road King Intermediate Division
• Cpl. R. Dean - 4th Place in Road King Intermediate Division

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Coral Springs, Florida April 2003
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Cpl. R. Dean, Pfc. W. Brinson, Pfc. M. Morgan, Pfc. R. Cato, Pfc. B. West.

23rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition, Rockville, Maryland September 2002
Motor Squad Officers attending Event: Cpl. R. Dean, Pfc. W. Brinson, Pfc. M. Morgan, Pfc. D. Singletary, Pfc. L. Girrard.
• Pfc. M. Morgan - 1st Place in Road King Novice Division
• Pfc. W. Brinson - 2nd Place in Road King Novice Division
• Pfc. L. Girrard - 4th Place in Road King Intermediate Division
• Cpl. R. Dean - 5th Place in Road King Intermediate Division

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