Behind the Badge
Amid a sea of orange cones, the officers must make it through the obstacle course without knocking any over. It’s harder than it sounds.
These are motor officers riding through a course developed as part of the annual Orange County Traffic Officers Association Motor Rodeo, a 44-year-old competition designed not only as a team-building event, but also as a form of training for the real-life scenarios motor officers face on a daily basis.
“We have officers from as far as Ventura, as far down as Escondido,” says 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. “Most of the Orange County agencies are here.”
Anaheim PD Officer Jeff Burke competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
As motor officers from agencies including the Fullerton Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Pasadena Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department and Anaheim Police Department ride their 800-plus pound BMWs, Hondas, Kawasakis and Harley-Davidsons through the two courses set up in a parking area of Huntington State Beach during the competition’s final Top Gun portion, it’s obvious these officers are skilled in the ways of motorcycle maneuvers — and these courses are tough.
“These are the best of the best,” says OCSD motor officer Bruce Fraze, who was among the large audience of law enforcement and family members watching the day-long competition.
During the Top Gun portion, motor officers rode out in pairs – each officer representing a different agency. A pair would ride out on the north course, followed by a pair on the south course, back and forth, the number of competing officers shrinking through disqualification (knocking over a cone, setting down a foot or falling over). The officer in the lead set the course pattern and the second officer had to follow that same pattern.
OCSD’s Brian Callagy rides the course.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“The farther he gets away, the harder it is for him to keep up to where he was,” says Anderson.
Audience members (and judges) watched intently as a cone was tapped or a motorcycle slowed to a crawl … to see who would make it through the round.
Groans were heard frequently as an officer knocked a cone over or couldn’t quite make a tight curve.
The event was timed – each pair stayed in the course a maximum of 2 minutes.
“It’s not just a competition, it’s also training in and of itself,” says Mark Worthington, an instructor at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Motor School.
La Habra PD Officer Tam Do competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
When motor officers go through the required two-week training at Motor School, they learn a host of skills they’ll need to ride a motorcycle safely as an officer: collision avoidance, emergency braking, riding on a variety of surfaces, situational awareness, and the list goes on. Worthington says this annual competition helps keep officers sharp on that training.
And the event does one other thing. Through registration fees, T-shirt sales and ticket sales for donated raffle prizes, the event raises funds for families of fallen motor and other officers injured during the line of duty.
“We will donate to whoever needs help,” says Anderson.
Fullerton PD Motor Officer Kyle Baas competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD’s Nathan Fay competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD’s Jason Wonser during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Cpl. Stephen Bailor competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSDÕs James Johnston during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD Officer John Hedges competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD’s Nathan Fay smiles at the conclusion of his run during the Top Gun portion of the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tustin PD’s Jason Wonser competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD’s Eric Gooselaw smiles as he tips his motorcycle, a common occurrence during the OCTOA competition.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD’s Tony Karg competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Fullerton PD Motor Officer Kyle Baas competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Gerry Verpooten competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD’s Eric Gooselaw, left, during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Jeff Burke competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD’s Michael Padilla competes during the 2016 OCTOA (Orange County Traffic Officers Association) Motor Rodeo at Huntington Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
