September 24, 2004
Minneapolis, MN - The Minneapolis Police Department recently took to the streets on 11 Electra Glide Classics obtained from Harley-Davidson, the first time in 50 years officers in the Minnesota city have patrolled on motorcycles.
Retailing for approximately $17,000 each, the bikes were ordered via Harley’s $1-per-bike lease program offered to law enforcement agencies, and delivered by Faribault Harley-Davidson. The MPD did have to pay a one-time equipment and installation fee of about $25,000.
Twelve officers trained for the new patrol. Three motorcycles will be assigned to the MPD's traffic unit, one to the public housing unit and the rest divided between the five precincts and used mostly for ceremonial events, traffic enforcement and neighborhood patrols.
St. Paul, Minneapolis’ sister city and the Minnesota State Capitol, has eight full-time officers in its five-year-old motorcycle unit.
Harley-Davidson serves over 3,500 police departments in North America and law enforcement agencies in more than 45 countries worldwide. H-D models available for law enforcement duty include the XL Sportster 883, FXDP Dyna Defender, FLHPI Road King, FLHTPI Electra Glide, TLE Sidecar and Peace Officer Special Edition.
