Motor Officer Training

A motorcycle officer is a unique position. Law enforcement is inherently dangerous. Riding motorcycles is also inherently dangerous. Motor officers do both at the same time. Becoming a motor officer is an exceptional point in a police officer's career. Turlock Police Department requires officers already have an M1 (motorcycle) license endorsement and have three years experience at Turlock Police Department prior to applying. Once selected into the motor unit, officers must complete pre-training prior to going to their official training. After pre-training, officers must complete a two week California Peace Officer Standards and P.O.S.T. approved motor officer school at the Fresno Police Department’s Academy.

This two week course is an intensive program that is both exhausting and rewarding. It gives motor officers the fundamentals they need to survive as a Solo Motor Officer. After the two week school, motor officers complete a two week field training program where they ride with an experienced motor officer. This is the time where they learn to apply the fundamentals they learned in school to the field. Altogether, officers spend six weeks in training before they are "solo".

Turlock Police Department Motor Officers conduct monthly training after that. This ensures that basic skills are continually honed. This training day usually consists of practicing in cone patterns followed by qualification. Repeated failure of qualification results in the motor officer losing their motorcycle until they can qualify. Officers also practice tandem riding in the city and on highways. This is a highly specialized skill that requires a lot of practice.

You may see Turlock motor officers in groups driving through parks or outside of Turlock. We go to different areas with different terrain. Being able to do a figure 8 on a flat road is completely different than doing a figure 8 on a 25% grade. All of this training ensures the Turlock Police Motor Officers are exceptional riders.