Harley Returns to Police Service After 80 Years: Flashback Friday

An H-D police bike hasn’t been used in Moorestown since 1937, but after a long hiatus, there is a new motorcycle patrolling the streets.

In many places around the United States, police departments rely on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but Moorestown, New Jersey hasn’t used any motorcycles since 1937. Back then, Ptl. Walt Errickson patrolled Moorestown’s streets on a Harley and after 80 years without a motorcycle cop – the small Jersey town has a Harley-Davidson in the fleet.

Officer Hubel and His Harley-Davidson

The first motorcycle in the Moorestown, New Jersey police fleet in 80 years is a 2018 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic. This new bike was donated to the police department by the Corr family and Officer George Hubel is the man in the saddle. Hubel is an avid motorcycle rider, but after spending nearly 25 years on the force, this is the first time that he has had the opportunity to patrol the streets on a motorcycle.

Before taking to the streets on his new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Hubel attended the Philadelphia Police Department Highway Patrol course, preparing him for the unique differences between the police cruiser and the police motorcycle.

“It was a little scary the first three days,” said Hubel to The Patch. “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.”

The Harley Advantages

While there is an undeniable cool factor with an officer patrolling on a Harley-Davidson, there an array of functional advantages that come with the motorcycle. Hubel is able to get through tight areas more quickly than an officer in a car, so his response time to emergencies is generally quicker than it would be in a car. The Harley also offers better performance than a great many cars, so it serves as an excellent pursuit vehicle.

Of course, the downside is that when Officer Hubel catches a lawbreaker, he has to call for a car to come haul the person off to jail, but in terms of pursuit and response – the motorcycle is hard to beat.

The other key downside to patrolling on a Harley-Davidson in New Jersey is winter. While Hubel doesn’t mind riding in the 40s, when it gets much colder – or when the snow falls – he has to switch to a car for his own safety.

The Moorestown Police plan to add at least one more specially-trained motorcycle officer in the near future, but it uncertain as to whether a larger unit of two-wheeled officers will come together.

Photos/Sources: Moorestown Police Department via The Patch

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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