WHEELING - The city's two-wheeled police officers have added a third wheel to their fight against crime with the addition of two Can-Am Spyder motorcycles to the fleet.
A grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program allowed for the purchase of the motorcycles, with no cost to city taxpayers. The state grant also provides funds to pay officers while patrolling with the motorcycles.
Charleston police trained six Wheeling officers in motorcycle safety, instructing them how to operate equipment specific to the Spyders. An additional two officers recently traveled to Charleston to receive training as well.
Article Photos
Photo by Tyler Reynard
Officers Neil Fowkes, left, and Josh Sanders pose next to one of the two Spyder motorcycles obtained by the Wheeling Police Department.
Officer Josh Sanders, who took part in the three-day training course, said the Spyders have all the "bells and whistles" of a traditional police cruiser, including a radar unit, camera and lights and siren.
It is the Spyder's unique design, Sanders added, that has caused such an interest from the public. Two of the vehicle's three wheels are placed at its front, while the third wheel sits solo directly behind the driver.
Sanders said the comment most frequently made by motorists is they felt they were being followed by a spaceship.
The Spyders soon will resemble the rest of the Wheeling police vehicle fleet, in color, at least. Originally blue, the Spyders are being painted black and white to match other cruisers.
Officer Neil Fowkes, who also serves as Highway Safety coordinator, said the vehicles are currently being utilized specifically for DUI enforcement, patrolling streets between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. when drunk drivers are most likely to be on the road.
Since the Spyders began patrolling Wheeling streets Aug. 12, officers have netted nine DUI arrests and 10 driving while suspended offenses, among other driving violations.
"They're very effective," Fowkes said. "They've really been hitting it hard."
Wheeling Chief of Police Robert Matheny said the Spyders are another tool in the enforcement of drunk driving laws.
"As part of our mission," Matheny said, "we want to reduce the number of people driving drunk, and one of the ways to reduce it is through proper enforcement. We feel this takes our enforcement level up another notch."
Matheny was quick to point out, however, he believes the Spyders are not the sole reason for the increase in effective enforcement.
"It's good police work," he commented. "But it gives the officers a different approach, and sometimes that's good. It adds a different approach for officers to attack this problem."