As a 31.5 year veteran of the Houston Police Department, I think this question deserves more than a one-line response; therefore, if you will permit me to elaborate on this most controversial, shameful and embarrassing subject matter.

Unfortunately Don, far too many of America’s law enforcement officers do advocate and participate in the Loud Motorcycle Cult[ure] and I watched this travesty take place before my very eyes during my 31.5 years with the Houston PD. Even Houston’s own Solo Motorcycle Division has members who ride incredibly loud motorcycles on-duty and there is a faction of HPD Officers who ride incredibly LOUD police motorcycles as off-duty extra-job escort vehicles.

A motorcycle officer pulled me to the side one day and told me that he appreciated my stance on the LOUD motorcycle problem and that some officers ride so LOUD that they activate car alarms when riding down city streets…the officer told me “They think it’s funny.”

I received a phone call from the wife of an HPD motorcycle officer who expressed her concerns for her husband’s safety who was required to ride in formation with officers operating illegally LOUD police motorcycles. The LOUD, illegally equipped police motorcycles were so LOUD that her husband could not hear his on-board police radio. An obvious safety concern. Though I articulated my concerns to Mayor Parker and Police Chief McClelland, has anything been done to rectify the unacceptable situation? Not to my knowledge.

While assigned to the Westside Command Station, patrol officers routinely rode their illegally equipped, extremely LOUD motorcycles to work – some in full uniform, parked them by the front and back doors where supervision passes many times a day. Anything said or done to rectify the situation? Absolutely nothing.

A patrol supervisor at the Westside Station routinely drove an incredibly LOUD racing Corvette to early morning roll call. Anything done to rectify the illegal situation? Absolutely nothing!

Houston has two LOUD biker gangs whose members are made up of area law enforcement and fire fighters: The Reguladores and the Los Carnales – La Familia MC; LOUD Thugs with badges assaulting the very citizens they swore to protect and serve! Anything done to rectify this unacceptable situation? Absolutely nothing!

Rick Holtsclaw, Houston PD/Retired
Concerned Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles – Facebook

Also see: http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2016/02/02/fast-growing-motorcycle-group-largely-for-law-enforcement/6MznxyzaYzLzO8omxXLMPJ/story.html?s_campaign=8315

CODE OF ETHICS

AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality and justice.

I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all, and will conduct myself in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

I KNOW that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence.

I WILL constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession…LAW ENFORCEMENT.