Massachusetts State Police Motorcycle Unit Bio

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AGENCIES.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT MOTORCYCLE UNIT.
By Trooper John N. Clement

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is made up of 351 cities and towns. The State Police currently employ approximately 2,300 troopers, non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers. The duties and responsibilities of the State Police are broad and cover almost every aspect of criminal investigation. The State is divided, essentially, into five troops or patrol areas. Each troop contains five to seven substations and a troop headquarters. The Massachusetts Turnpike and Logan Airport are stand alone troops, falling under the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Port Authority, respectively.

The Massachusetts State Police trace their roots back to 1865, when they were referred to as the State Constabulary. Their primary role at that time was enforcement of alcohol laws. Over the next 56 years they would change the name of the organization twice, from the State Detective Force and then to the District Police. During this period, their enforcement of laws increased, to include child labor, riot control and preserving public peace.

Since the formation of the State Police Patrol in 1921, motorcycles have been widely used for patrol purposes. A poignant reminder of their frequent use, are the 10 troopers who have died in the line of duty from motorcycle related accidents. The first was Trooper Llewellyn A. Lowther on September 9, 1924 and the last was Trooper Wallace E. Matthews on April 23, 1953.

Today, the use of motorcycles by Massachusetts State Troopers continues across the State. Prospective candidates for the unit are subjected to a rigorous 40 hour course of instruction that includes slow speed control and turning maneuvers, clutch and throttle control and emergency evasive actions. Motorcycles have proven to be a valuable asset for Troopers assigned in heavy traffic areas around the state, especially the city of Boston with the "Big Dig" tunnel construction project. With the tunnels and a maze of intersecting highways and state roads, access to motor vehicle accidents is sometimes only accomplished by motorcycle.


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While the unit, made up of 40-50 highly trained Troopers, Sergeants and a Lieutenant, is sometimes disbanded to supplement shortages in the various state wide barracks', members are frequently called upon for duties that include dignitary escorts, parades, public awareness and relations events and crowd control. Motorcycles can also be seen in use for player escorts and traffic control at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium, for games by the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots .

If you would like to contribute information on your squad, please send an email.