Panhandle troopers join ranks of motorcycle police

Todd McDevitt is earning his wings.

The decorated Idaho State Police trooper is in line to join the ranks of a handful of North Idaho motorcycle police officers who ride American Iron as part of their patrol duties.

In his efforts to become one of the state police’s first local motorcycle police duo, and earn the wheeled wings that show he is part of a specialized group, McDevitt has been participating in a course that includes high-speed riding, dirt rides on a 1866 cc Harley Davidson Electra Glide, hill climbs, a firearms course, obstacles, night riding and maneuverability training.

So far, McDevitt — who along with another Coeur d’Alene trooper earned a silver star for heroism for preventing a suicide on I-90 four years ago — is doing just fine.

Tuesday morning on the already hot, sun-splotched Coeur d’Alene High parking lot McDevitt grinned, gave himself an internal thumbs up before strapping on his helmet and, after successfully twice completing the maneuverability course, was given a thumbs up by Coeur d’Alene Police trainers.

Straddling the 1,400-pound Harley, McDevitt wound the bike between orange cones at several stations in the large, otherwise empty parking lot and returned to his starting point.

He had already satisfactorily completed a dirt course on Monday, and today he will be at the Stateline Speedway rolling his wrist on the Harley’s throttle leaning into sweeping turns.

It’s all part of the two-week process to be certified as what police call a motor officer.

“The course is pass or fail,” trainer Shane Avriett of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said.

Avriett is one of two trainers in North Idaho, and part of the Coeur d’Alene department’s motor unit. The department has four motor officers of its own who deploy on two wheels for 31 weeks from April through October. Its three bikes are leased from Lone Wolf Harley Davidson.

When they aren’t in the saddle, the officers return to their regular duties. Avriett is a detective sergeant.

A motorcycle unit is part tradition, Avriett said, part pride and part public relations. People love motorcycles.

Avriett has seen motorists who were stopped for a traffic offense, joyfully walk back to admire his police Electra Glide.

“I’ve had that, absolutely,” he said.

Allen Ashby, the Idaho State supervisor for the agency’s motorcycle unit, said his department joined the ranks of motor cops this year. Other ISP districts, notably Boise and Pocatello, have had the units, but North Idaho has not.

“It’s not new to ISP, but it’s definitely new to Coeur d’Alene,” Ashby said.

State police will use the newly-minted motor officers on patrol and special events such as parades and festivals.

“There’s a sense of pride and tradition,” Ashby said. “And the added benefit that they maneuver through traffic easier.”

McDevitt, who lives in Medimont and is an avid motorcycle rider outsider of work will become a specialist in his field when he is certified.

“If everything goes good, he’ll get his wings on Friday,” Avriett said.