The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-30
POLICE BY MOTOR
Three Motorcycle Cops To Be
Added to Force.
"MOunted" Soon.
KEEP AN EYE ON SPEEDERS
Every Section of City VIII Be
Covered by Gas.
Three Experienced Riders Are
Hired by Leonard.
KEEP AN EYE ON SPEEDERS

The first step toward the ultimate
motorization of the Topeka police
force was taken today by Chief Nor
ris Leonard when he added three new
motorcycle policemen to the payroll.
This makes four now on the depart
ment.
It is the hope of Chief Leonard to
replace, as rapidly as finances will
permit. practically all the foot patrol
men with motorcycle patrolmen. They
can cover more territory and with
more speed and are more efficient and
economical than the foot patrolmen,
the chief believes.
The four motorcycle men will work
In two shifts, one covering the resi-
dental section of the west side and
the other the east side of the city.
such patrOlmen as are now on duty
will probably be retained until fur
ther motorcycles can be added, it was
said, altho their beats may be changed
some to meet the new conditions
The motorcycle patrOlmen will be in
uniform and in addition to perform
ing the ordinary duties of the foot pa
trolmen. will make it point to appre-
hend speeders and traffic violators.
The men will be constantly on the go,
and citizens who desire the services of
an officer may hail them at any time
as in the case of the foot patrolmen.
New Men Experienced.
The new men are Joseph H. Hud-
son, 1923 Jackson street, formerly
Spanish Interpreter for the secret
service of the Rock Island lines; Ollie
L. Roger, 1922 Van Buren street,
motorcycle mechanic; and William
Reed, 1923 Van Buren street. The
fourth man is william K. Hill. who
has been on the force for a number
Of years as motorcycle policeman and
patrol driver. All are young men.
Roger and Hudson are ex-serVice
men, the latter having ridden a mo-
torcycie in the army.
The men will report to headquarters
by telephone every thirty minutes.
One will report every fifteen minutes,
so that in the event they are needed
elsewhere on short notice they will
be available. The high speed at which
these officers can move and the large
amount of territory they can cover in
a short time make them of great
value to the department
The two motor cars now belonging
to the department will be kept at
headquarters for the purpose of an
swering calls.
Police departments everywhere"
said Chief Leonard, ARE coming to
realize the advantages of the motor
cycle as a means of quick transporta-
ton They are also economical be-
cause they can cover so much terri
tory. One patrolman on a motorcycle
can cover as much territory as five
men on foot, and in less time. 1t is
my hope to eventually have at least
five or six motorcycle patrolmen on
duty constantly. Not only are these
men valuable because of their speed.
but in a certain sense they serve to
hold crime in check because, by the
very fact of their speed, they are LA
BILE to show up anywhere at any mo-
ment-
Motorists inclined to speed will
be more careful when they
know they may be picked up by a
patrolman at any time,
anywhere. And we are going to stop
this speeding, that's all there is to it.
Gradually, as finances will permit, !
hope to add more machines to the
force. I believe it is a long step to-
ward giving the city better police
protection"