2008 Woodie Awards
Public Safety Director responds to criticism over new motorcycle
Derek Aitken
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
ISU Public Safety recently received criticism about their motorcycle patrol. The criticism indicated that Doug Klingler, the officer who rides the motorcycle, does not have adequate training to use the motorcycle in a law enforcement manner. However, according to Stephen Chatterton, Director of Public Safety, this isn't an accurate assessment of the situation.
"(Klingler) has received one-on-one motorcycle training from a certified law enforcement motorcycle instructor, who is a Utah Post Academy instructor," said Chatterton. "The Utah Post Academy certified that he has sufficient training to do the job of a Public Safety officer."
In addition to the initial training Klingler received, he must recertify each year.
Klingler explained that the recertification process "helps to keep the liability off of the departments that have motorcycle patrol officers."
The criticism also accused Public Safety of attempting to look too much like police officers, and that by adding a motorcycle patrol officer they were going one step further in trying to appear as police officers.
"Our officers do not look like Pocatello Police officers," said Chatterton in response to the criticism. "The Pocatello Police officers' uniforms are entirely different from ours. Their identification on their equipment is entirely different from ours. Their bikes and their motorcycles identify them as Pocatello Police. Our vehicles identify us as Public Safety."
Chatterton also pointed out that Pocatello Police bicycle and motorcycle officers wear white shirts as part of their uniforms, while all Public Safety officers, including the new motorcycle officer, wear their "standard dark uniforms."
Chatterton explained that the motorcycle is not meant to give Public Safety a means of impersonating police officers. Instead, it allows them an opportunity to contact a different portion of the campus than before.
"We try to increase our interaction with the campus community and this is just one device which broadens our overall ability to respond and interact with the campus community in a favorable way," Chatterton said.
"Each different mode of patrol provides opportunities to contact different members of the community, whether it be in a patrol car, on a motorcycle, on a bicycle or on foot," Klingler said.
Chatterton again emphasized the motorcycle's cost saving benefits, its ability to get to locations around campus in a timely manner, and the added benefit of broadening their contacts around campus.
"We are here to serve the campus community and the things we do are aimed at providing opportunities for greater interaction and to promote safety on campus," Chatterton said.
"(Klingler) has received one-on-one motorcycle training from a certified law enforcement motorcycle instructor, who is a Utah Post Academy instructor," said Chatterton. "The Utah Post Academy certified that he has sufficient training to do the job of a Public Safety officer."
In addition to the initial training Klingler received, he must recertify each year.
Klingler explained that the recertification process "helps to keep the liability off of the departments that have motorcycle patrol officers."
The criticism also accused Public Safety of attempting to look too much like police officers, and that by adding a motorcycle patrol officer they were going one step further in trying to appear as police officers.
"Our officers do not look like Pocatello Police officers," said Chatterton in response to the criticism. "The Pocatello Police officers' uniforms are entirely different from ours. Their identification on their equipment is entirely different from ours. Their bikes and their motorcycles identify them as Pocatello Police. Our vehicles identify us as Public Safety."
Chatterton also pointed out that Pocatello Police bicycle and motorcycle officers wear white shirts as part of their uniforms, while all Public Safety officers, including the new motorcycle officer, wear their "standard dark uniforms."
Chatterton explained that the motorcycle is not meant to give Public Safety a means of impersonating police officers. Instead, it allows them an opportunity to contact a different portion of the campus than before.
"We try to increase our interaction with the campus community and this is just one device which broadens our overall ability to respond and interact with the campus community in a favorable way," Chatterton said.
"Each different mode of patrol provides opportunities to contact different members of the community, whether it be in a patrol car, on a motorcycle, on a bicycle or on foot," Klingler said.
Chatterton again emphasized the motorcycle's cost saving benefits, its ability to get to locations around campus in a timely manner, and the added benefit of broadening their contacts around campus.
"We are here to serve the campus community and the things we do are aimed at providing opportunities for greater interaction and to promote safety on campus," Chatterton said.
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