Officer Macias said that during training he had to “actually crash, but everyday you get better and better laying the bike down,” a maneuver he had to practice again and again. Of course, motorcycle officers are equipped with special pants that provide extra padding, as well as motorcycle boots.The special emphasis of a motorcycle officer is to maintain the safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Officer Macias said that he would drive about 50 miles daily while on duty, looking out for seatbelt and other violations as well as responding to traffic collisions. “People are really anxious,” to have the motorcycle officer on the job, he noted.And what does he do at the end of his shift? “I take it home and clean it,” Officer Macias said of his motorcycle partner.Officer Macias is a city native and Santa Paula High School graduate - at which time he became a SPPD Cadet for several years - then joined the SPPD as a full-time officer in 2002. Officer Macias was recently honored as the SPPD Officer of the Year at the annual Kiwanis Law Day awards luncheon.
SPPD Macias first motorcycle officer in more than 50 years
June 29, 2005
Santa Paula Police Department
Santa Paula Police Officer Allen Macias is the city’s first motorcycle patrolman in more than half a century, and his training for the job has been tough, according to a department spokesman.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula Police Officer Allen Macias is the city’s first motorcycle patrolman in more than half a century, and his training for the job has been tough, according to a department spokesman. “Officer Macias had to spend two weeks pre-training in Oxnard with one of their motor officers, and two weeks in San Bernardino at the field officer training academy,” followed by post-training again in Oxnard, said Det. Gary Marshall.Det. Marshall authored the successful grant that provided funding for both the motorcycle and field officer, and “Now we’ve got him out there. But first Officer Macias had to do all kinds of riding, real difficult maneuvers. They have the bike rookies deliberately lay the training bike down and go on a lot of long rides. I understand it’s a pretty tough course.”According to Officer Macias, it was. Officer Macias is used to his patrol motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson. He even owns one for personal use. But, he noted, “It was a tough class. I knew how to ride a motorcycle, but not the way they wanted me to!”
