Trumann residents should see policemen patrolling on motorcycles throughout the city in the next couple of weeks, according to Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg.

The police department has recently purchased two Johnny Pag Interceptor 300 Police Motorcycles. The bikes, which cost a total of $6,473, including shipping, were purchased from a California firm. The firm specializes in light, fuel efficient police motorcycles.

Sgt. Erik Willbanks and Patrolman Gary Swift will be the primary motorcycle officers on the Trumann police force. Willbanks has been on the Trumann Police force for three years and Swift has served for over five years. Both are also members of the Trumann Tactical Team.

Will banks will patrol on motorcycle on the department's second shift and swift will work the day shift on motorcycle.

Secondary officers for the motorcycles will be Ptl. Cory Overstreet, Sgt. Gary Henry, Patrolman Tony Postell, Ptl. Shannon Montgomery, Asst. Chief Tony Rusher and Chief Blagg.

The eight officers were participating in an 8-hour training and riding course on Monday. The in-service class included riding techniques, safety equipment, emergency equipment and vehicle maintenance. All officers also received instruction on riding on gravel, grass and pavement. They also received instruction on sudden starts and stops, abrupt turnarounds and cruising.

The bikes will make regular traffic and community patrols, and Police

Chief Blagg is hoping that they'll save a whole lot of gas in the

process.

"I actually talked with Mayor Sheila Walters about this last year but I didn't

know how realistic it was. It has become a lot more realistic when

we're spending $6,000 a month on gas," Blagg said. "For less than

$10,000, we'll have two fully-equipped bikes."

Traditional, heavier motorcycles only get 25 to 30 miles per gallon while the Trumann 300cc bikes will get 60 to 65 mpg with a top speed of 105 miles per hour.

Blagg said the bikes come fully equipped with saddle bags, a windshield, lights, sirens and will be black and white. The department is installing radios on the bikes and helmets have been purchased.

The decision to purchase the bikes is a purely financial one. A Trumann police

cruiser averages 12 mpg, which is typical for police vehicles across the state. During the past month, the department has implemented several cost cutting measures such as having two officers in one vehicle and working out of city substations, which resulted in a fuel cost savings of $1,700.

But with the fuel budget nearly maxed out for the year, Blagg said he wanted to look at additional ways to cut fuel costs for the future. The original plan was to purchase used motorcycles, but a $4,300 price tag for a new, more fuel-efficient bike caused police to rethink that strategy.

Trumann Police will join just two other departments -- Hot Springs and Magnolia -- to use motorcycles on daily patrols.

"The bikes are extremely quiet, and they are perfect for driving around in neighborhoods. They are not a pursuit bike, but that doesn't matter because we are not going to allow our officers to pursue on them," Blagg said.

The new equipment will be covered under the department's current insurance and officers are required to take an 8-hour, in-house safety course before using the vehicles.

The new bikes will be assigned to certain officers, who will still have a car. Weather permitting the officers will use the new bikes on daily patrols, but the motorcycles will not be used on night shifts.

Blagg hopes to be able to run the bikes for 10 months out of the year at least three days a week.

"If we can do that, the savings will be unbelievable because a car averages between 10 and 12 miles per gallon, and if this motorcycle can just get 50 miles per gallon, it would be like taking four to five police cars off the street," Blagg said, adding that he is hoping to cut his fuel bill by 25 percent.