Wheel Power « SJ Echo

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

Wheel Power

USJ8 police equipped with high-powered motorcycles to pursue suspects

THEY are no Evel Knievel but the police in USJ8 now have the wheel power to take on suspects on high-speed pursuits, minus all the motorcycle jumps and daredevil stunts Knievel was known for between the 60s and 80s.
Able to go over curbs and road dividers easily on their Kawasaki 250cc scramblers, Chief Inspector Loi Yew Lik and his men have found that the government issued motorcycles have given them an added advantage.
Loi believes the size of the scramblers and their distinctive green and white colors will make them noticeable to residents when his men go on their crime prevention rounds.
“We have four of these scramblers together with two Kawasaki 150cc assigned to the crime prevention unit at the station.”
“When we go out on the streets, we are visible and that has its advantage,” he told SJ Echo.
According to Loi, the high-powered motorcycles the police have now given the unit a better ability to chase suspects who are on motorcycles or cars.
“Over the past few months, the motorcycles have proven their worth to us. We have been able to catch several suspects who tried to outrun us.”
“When we stop motorists these days, they stop when we ask them to. It’s probably due to the fact that they know they cannot outrun us,” he said, adding that the police officers also use the bikes to pursue cars as well.
The motorcycles are versatile and gives the officers the ability to go where a normal “kap chai” (lower powered motorcycle) cannot go, according to Loi.
But what about safety of his men and also the public when the officers are engaged in high-speed pursuits?
“If we pose a risk to road users and pedestrians, we will abort the chase. Public safety is our number one priority.”
“The safety of my men is also my priority,” he added.
On complains that the police are slow in responding to emergencies, Loi said with the bikes, the police can get to the place faster, even if there’s a traffic crawl on the way.
The next time you spot these bikes on the road in your neighbourhood, give a friendly wave from the safety of your house compound or vehicle, you might be pleasantly surprised to receive a greeting from the officers as well.