MONROE - Monroe's Finance and Taxation Committee could consider adding a motorcycle to the police force as a future project.
Police Chief Fred Kelley told the Public Safety Committee Monday night that two used 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were for sale in West Allis, with all required equipment already installed, except for a radio.
Before the committee could act on Kelley's idea to purchase one of the used motorcycles, they were sold. Kelley had spoken to Mayor Ron Marsh about the cycles and exploring the idea of adding one to the force.
Kelley said no funds were in the budget for such a purchase this year, but asked the committee to consider turning the idea over to Finance and Taxation as a possible future project. Public Safety unanimously approved the request and sent the idea to Finance and Taxation.
The police department has one full-time officer who could ride a 1200 cc motorcycle until he could be officially trained. Kelley said the training is different from regular motorcycle license training.
Alderman Jan Lefevre asked whether a motorcycle was a need or a want.
"If this is an extremely tight year (for the city budget), how do we justify it?" she asked the committee.
Kelley said the motorcycle would be used as an alternative to a car for at least six months, but could be used even in cold weather, except in ice and snow.
Ninety percent of the time, the cycle would be used for working traffic.
Kelley had no figures to compare cost savings that might come from using a motorcycle instead of an automobile. But, he said a motorcycle gets 40-60 miles per gallon of gas, whereas a squad cars get about 10-15 miles per gallon.
Alderman Thurston Hanson said he had seen cycles being used in Arizona. He said he likes the idea of more traffic enforcement.
Kelley said the last time Monroe had a motorcycle presence on the force was in the late 1970s, when they had a three-wheeler.
Police Chief Fred Kelley told the Public Safety Committee Monday night that two used 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were for sale in West Allis, with all required equipment already installed, except for a radio.
Before the committee could act on Kelley's idea to purchase one of the used motorcycles, they were sold. Kelley had spoken to Mayor Ron Marsh about the cycles and exploring the idea of adding one to the force.
Kelley said no funds were in the budget for such a purchase this year, but asked the committee to consider turning the idea over to Finance and Taxation as a possible future project. Public Safety unanimously approved the request and sent the idea to Finance and Taxation.
The police department has one full-time officer who could ride a 1200 cc motorcycle until he could be officially trained. Kelley said the training is different from regular motorcycle license training.
Alderman Jan Lefevre asked whether a motorcycle was a need or a want.
"If this is an extremely tight year (for the city budget), how do we justify it?" she asked the committee.
Kelley said the motorcycle would be used as an alternative to a car for at least six months, but could be used even in cold weather, except in ice and snow.
Ninety percent of the time, the cycle would be used for working traffic.
Kelley had no figures to compare cost savings that might come from using a motorcycle instead of an automobile. But, he said a motorcycle gets 40-60 miles per gallon of gas, whereas a squad cars get about 10-15 miles per gallon.
Alderman Thurston Hanson said he had seen cycles being used in Arizona. He said he likes the idea of more traffic enforcement.
Kelley said the last time Monroe had a motorcycle presence on the force was in the late 1970s, when they had a three-wheeler.