Behind the Badge
A motorcycle rider himself, Jim Tigner Sr. enjoyed watching the 600-plus motorcycle officers competing in the Motor Rodeo at the Huntington State Beach parking lot on Sep. 13.
Not only did he come out to support his son, Jim Tigner Jr., a La Habra Police Department traffic sergeant who was working as part of the Orange County Traffic Officers Association, which puts on the annual event – but he came to admire the unique motor officer skillset.
“I ride a Harley and I could no way do this,” the elder Tigner said. “(It’s) something that everyday motorcyclists couldn’t aspire to.”
Motor officers participate in the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Indeed, even to the civilian eye, it was clear that these elite competitors were doing something not many can master – leading their 1,000-pound machines through strategically placed orange cones into delicate turns, sudden accelerations and impossibly long pauses.
The morning portion of the daylong event consisted of a circuit competition made up of challenging cone patterns set up in the south end of the lot. In the afternoon, top scorers from the morning competition moved onto the Top Gun competition on the north end, where two courses were set up for alternating pairs of competitors. A pair of competitors would ride out on one course, followed by a pair on the other, back and forth, the number of competing officers shrinking through disqualification (knocking over a cone, setting down a foot, falling over, or riding out of pattern). The officer in the lead set the course pattern and the second officer had to follow that same pattern.
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Tony Karg competes during Top Gun Competition, part of the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“The patterns are very tough – which is good,” said Anaheim PD motor officer and instructor, Tony Karg.
Though the day is full of fun and camaraderie, it also offers the opportunity for some important training that “saves our lives out on the street,” Karg said.
Garden Grove Police Officer Katherine Anderson, who is also a motor instructor for her agency and a member of the Orange County Traffic Officers Association, said because it’s a “perishable skill,” practice is an important part of being a motor officer.
Garden Grove Motor Officer Thomas Capps, left, gets a high-five from fellow GGPD Motor Officer Paul Ashby after finishing a course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“This is considered a training day for most,” she said.
Orange PD traffic unit Lt. Fred Lopez said beyond competition, this is a unique opportunity for all the motor officers to get together.
La Habra Motor Officer Tam Do participates in the Top Gun Competition for the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the camaraderie and the fun,” he said.
In addition to the training and camaraderie, the Motor Rodeo does something else. Via registration fees, T-shirt sales, ticket sales for donated raffle prizes – and even a chili-pepper-eating competition this year between two officers – the event also raises funds for families of fallen motor and other officers injured during the line of duty. The fallen officer memorial was set up in front of the event’s main stage.
The event ended with awards given out to individual competitors in first, second and third places, categorized based on their motorcycle – BMW, Honda or Harley-Davidson. There were also first-, second- and third-place prizes given to police agency teams: Riverside and Fullerton Police placed first, Anaheim PD placed second and Glendale PD placed third. First place Top Gun went to a Glendale Police officer, second place went to Anaheim PD’s Brian Carrion and third place went to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department motor officer. The APD’s Tony Karg finished fourth.
OCSD Motor Dep. Michael Padilla competes during the Top Gun Competition for the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Carrion, Karg and Steve Anderson placed second in the team competition.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Motor Officer Jim Johnston won first place in the BMW individual competition.
“It’s a great opportunity for the officers to come and practice,” he said of the event.
With the course reflected in his helmet, Anaheim PD Motor Officer Brian Carrion competes during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Tony Karg competes during the Top Gun Competition, part of the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Motor Cpl. Kyle Baas takes his 2-year-old son, John William, through the motorcycle obstacle course during a break in the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Brian Carrion competes against another officer during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Motor Officer Thomas Capps makes his way through an obstacle course at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD Officer John Hedges competes during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Gerry Verpooten competes during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Adrian Capacete competes against another officer during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Brian Carrion competes during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officials push back the motorcycle of La Habra Motor Officer Tam Do during competition. Making contact with cones was much more common this year as they were moved closer to make it harder for officers competing in the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach. Officer Do later advanced to compete in the Top Gun Competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Cpl. Stephen Bailor exits an obstacle course on one wheel in a form of celebration during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Jim Tigner Sr., left, with his son, OCTOA Board Member and La Habra Motor Sgt. Jim Tigner at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Motor Officer Paul Ashby runs through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Motor Cpl. Kyle Baas poses for his sister, Kelly, with his family, wife Jeannette Baas and his two sons, Jayden Baas, 8 months, left, and John William, 2, during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Orange PD Motor Officer Justin McGowan rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Adrian Capacete competes against another officer during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Motor Officer Michael Elhami makes his way around the cones during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Members of the Anaheim Police Department cheer on their team during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Motor Officer Gerry Verpooten competes during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Motor Dep. Randy Morphew rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Motor Officer Danny Mihalik runs through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD Motor Officer Ralph Casiello competes during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Motor Dep. James Johnston rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Cpl. Stephen Bailor competes during the Top Gun Competition at the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Motor Dep. Michael Padilla rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Orange PD Motor Cpl. Jeff Gray rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Motor Dep. Joseph Bucaro rides through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Various obstacle courses are set up in the morning to challenge motor officers at the OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Motor Officer Ronnie Reyes runs through an obstacle course during the 45th Annual OCTOA Police Motorcycle Training and Skills Competition at Huntington State Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
