by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Determining the best police motorcycle unit in the state is still a bit of a subjective matter, but the numbers from last month’s Southeast Police Motorcycle Skills and Training competition in Coral Springs are tough to argue with: 13 members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office motorcycle unit won a combined 14 awards.
“I am very proud of how they did,” said Sgt. Jim Suber, the special events coordinator for JSO. “We have been going down there for 15 years and we’ve done real good in the past, but we have never taken awards like this.”
The JSO unit won the overall award as well as first place in both the individual and team categories. The group also took second in the team category and fourth and fifth in the individual competition. Officer Darren Harris won the top individual award in the state.
The annual event consists of three days of training and one day of actual competition. Suber explained the process involves five exercises over two courses: one slower, untimed course that involves maneuvering around cones without touching them, putting a foot down or laying the bike down. The other course is similar except that it’s timed.
“You want to go through it as fast and as safely as you can,” said Suber, adding that both courses are worth five points and perfect navigation of both is worth five bonus points. “Obviously, you want to go as safely and as cleanly as you can. But, you also want to go as fast as you can.”
“The courses are designed to teach officers how to maneuver the cycle on the road through obstacles and traffic. It’s geared toward officer safety, which is the No. 1 priority. Better riders can also pay better attention to the public when they are on the road.”
The competition isn’t just about bringing home the hardware, it’s also an annual fundraiser. Suber said the event is held in the parking lot of the Coral Springs mall and money is raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association as well as for an organization called Concerns of Police Survivors — a group that helps provide for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
The JSO’s motorcycle unit isn’t just one of the best in the state: membership is also in high demand. Suber, whose father was a member of the motorcycle unit in the 1950s, said JSO doesn’t recruit internally specifically for the unit.
“There’s an eligibility list,” he said. “When we make that list, we compile information and the officer has to apply for the unit. They go through an interview process that includes questions about their work history and their ability to ride a motorcycle.”
Above all, said Suber, being a good police officer is much more important than being able to ride like motocross champion Jeremy McGrath.
“To teach an officer with zero riding experience sometimes helps because they have no bad habits,” said Suber.
Once accepted, the officers go through two weeks of training before hitting the streets. Three days are spent learning the basics of the bike while the other seven are spent on the bike, learning everything from how the bike handles in every instance to how to safely lay one down.
“No 1, we are looking for good police officers. No. 2 is the ability to present themselves well to the public, be a team player and get along well with the rest of the unit,” said Suber. “Some damage is done in training. Even the best lay them down in training. We do have crashes and that’s part of the training. We push them to the edge.”
Officer Mark Mills hasn’t been riding long, but he really impressed Suber.
“He’s one of our newest riders. He’s only been riding about three months and he’s as green as you could get and he placed fifth in the novice division out of 50,” said Suber. “That says a lot about our training officers. They were able to bring him up to speed and Mark was able to compete with the best of them. That’s a small feat for him, but from my perspective, that’s major.”