http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2680674

My condolences go out to the family. I've been looking for more information on how this happened but I haven't been able to find much else. The article mentions that he (they) were riding on wet roads, but I would expect those guys to be very seasoned riders and well equipped with riding gear.

dont expect any riding gear beyond the 3/4 helmet. You old enough to remember the show CHiPs? Thats what they still wear in CA-short sleeve shirt and polyester pants, horse riding boots and 3/4 helmet.

aye, youd have to ahve fukll leathers to be half way protected, but a cop and full leathers wont mix, cause if a cop has to chase someone witht hte leathers on, hell lose.

Quote from: pantablo on November 26, 2006, 09:29:11 PM
dont expect any riding gear beyond the 3/4 helmet. You old enough to remember the show CHiPs? Thats what they still wear in CA-short sleeve shirt and polyester pants, horse riding boots and 3/4 helmet.

I never thought about it until now, but the Chicopee Police her in MA ride the same way...  only their police uniforms.  Nothing else.

Prayers go out to the family and friends.

I have seen one, yes ONE officer riding with gear. He had a mesh jacket on with his badges sewn on the outside, a modular helmet, and leather gloves, he also had pretty heavy looking pants, and full boots. He was riding a Beemer.

hmm if he had to footchase a suspect, how well would he do?

That's sad, sorry to hear he died in the end. 

Re:  Gear. 

I don't understand it either.  I know I wouldn't ride like that on a Sunday afternoon, let alone while chasing down a criminal.  What is interesting is that the German motorcycle police wear full-face helmets and one-piece green and white leathers along with racing boots and glove.  Somtimes you even see knee sliders.  The local cops wear the same getup, but textile.  The bikes are generally BMW sport touring mounts or full-on sportbikes.  Of course, the speeds involved in European roads are much higher, but a spill at 65 MPH will still take an incredible amount of skin off.   

British motorcycle cops always wear full leathers - 2pc zip together always black with boots and gloves and a white flip-up front helmet. Ontop of their leathers they wear fluroscent jackets. Until recently they used to ride Honda pan Europeans and a few BMWs. After the trouble with the pan's there is a far larger number who all ride FJR1300's. Really a bike cop shouldn't need to run very far as they are usually an aid to a pursuit rather than the only ones chasing a criminal down.

I'd like to see moto cops in full leathers, too.....or at least *some* kind of protection. 

found a vid of the crash aftermath, http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/10371566/detail.html?subid=22100441&qs=1;bp=t

looks like about 4 bmw's on their sides on a straight, wet road.
i'm curious exactly what went wrong.

+1 for gear