West Seattle scene: Police practicing in the park

Laurie shared these photos from Lincoln Park, explaining:

About 1:45 today, eleven police officers pulled up on motorcycles in front of Colman Pool. Apparently it was a training exercise in riding through park terrain.

First the officers answered questions and handed out stickers to awe-struck boys, and then they rode up the steep dirt trail that leads from the beach to the upper park. Once there, they rode around single file, learning to navigate the fields and woods.

Read about the SPD Motorcycle Unit here.

12 Replies to "West Seattle scene: Police practicing in the park"

  • Marie August 30, 2012 (6:34 am)

    THanks for the update. They passed me on the WS Bridge when finished in formation and I wondered what event had brought them all to WS.

  • Mike August 30, 2012 (8:47 am)

    The thought of these bikes roaring around a park in pursuit of somebody is chilling, albeit slightly hilarious.

    • WSB August 30, 2012 (8:55 am)

      More likely, I’m sure, it would be just one. But it would be rather startling, agreed.

  • Martin August 30, 2012 (9:32 am)

    Saw them wiz by me at Mee-Kwa-Mooks approx 3pm.

  • datamuse August 30, 2012 (9:46 am)

    They rode up that trail?? Color me impressed. I don’t ride nearly that well…

  • Common August 30, 2012 (10:37 am)

    Watch out offleash dog walkers.

  • sc August 30, 2012 (1:01 pm)

    Does the horse patrol practice also?

    • WSB August 30, 2012 (1:19 pm)

      SC – we have covered past sightings of the horses being taken out to get conditioned in public places. At a bank in Westwood Village, I recall one case …

  • datamuse August 30, 2012 (3:50 pm)

    I remember seeing the horses out and about in Highland Park once; it was a snowy day and I wondered if maybe they couldn’t trailer them to their usual place or something. (I also got a bit worried because these two little kids ran out of a yard up to the horses before their mother could stop them. The officers had their horses well in hand but, you know, horses are big animals that startle easily. I once got thrown due to an inopportune bird…)

  • zephyr August 30, 2012 (8:18 pm)

    My earlier comment didn’t post for some reason.
    .
    I don’t like this at all–motorcycles through the park. Why can’t they do their drill some place else? That trail up gets used by lots of hikers, runners, cyclists and swimmers. I see strollers there all the time. What sort of drill needs to happen in the park? That looks like 9 cycles there. That would not be fun to encounter while enjoying the park or going to the pool. Are they running through Magnolia, Seward, Volunteer and Green Lake parks?
    .
    Stickers for the kids, yep, that will make it alright. Sorry, but unless the POTUS is coming down to the pool, we don’t need such displays of force. Many of us go to the park to commune with nature not be reminded of the stresses of modern life. I am not anti-police, just such a in-your-face display of power.

  • Woodsman August 30, 2012 (8:45 pm)

    I could just see it now. Their chasing someone, park their bike and the kick stand sinks in the soft soil and the bike falls over. Then they run after someone with motorcycle gear on!

  • Matthew August 31, 2012 (11:32 am)

    The police are legally allowed to do this even on a golf course.

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