SAPD Hosts Motorcycle Rodeo as Texas Police Games Continue This Week

Today kicked off the Motorcycle Rodeo portion of the Texas Police Games hosted by local law enforcement at the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena. Located just off of Grape Creek Road, on the north side of San Angelo's Foster Communications Coliseum, the huge parking lot (in the back) will be the setting for this tournament-style bracketed event this week.

Above: Black Sheep Pit Crew on standby (Live! Photo/Holiday Bailey)

Beyond the cordoned off areas and pylons, several obstacle courses were strategically laid out with orange cones, while numerous law enforcement officers sat saddled on their service bikes and calmly awaited their turn to participate. Patrolman and part-time D.J. Officer Delacruz manned a tent and PA equipment, complete with gigantic speakers. He played motivational music for the riders.  

"I try to play a variety of songs and the genre varies," he said. Delacruz started off with Inner Circle's "Bad Boys" (from the popular T.V. show Cops), Metallica's "Enter Sandman," and AC DC's "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)," and the playlist got better and better as time went on. 

Sgt. Cade Solsbery, committee member for the event and public Information officer for the San Angelo Police Department, said, in regards to the riders, "Typically, they ride Honda, Kawasaki, and Harley Davidsons. We don't have any here today but some Officers ride BMWs and Victorys. Some of the bikes can be in excess of 1,000 pounds." As far as engine size, Solsbery added, "Most Hondas in the SAPD are 1,300cc, but the Harleys could run up to 1,800cc."

 

Today's event was called a Wing of Worry Eliminator Competition, where the riders go in two at a time, one leader and one follower, and the leader is in charge of ad-libbing the pattern and the follower has to mimic his ride.

"If any of them touch a cone, put a foot down, lay the bike down, or go off course, they are eliminated," explained Solsbery. The event was timed, and although 60 seconds for each ride doesn't seem long, to the onlooker it can be a nail biting, breath holding eternity, as some of the cones were literally inches apart. 

Two by two, competitors entered the course, and no one was the wiser as to what pattern the lead bike would choose. Almost resembling some kind of motorcycle ballet, these riders demonstrated grace and extreme discipline, manipulating and controlling their bikes every move. In the distance, one officer had his bike leaned to the side without a kickstand. A local REACT Volunteer said, "Sometimes, they do that intentionally for practice as if they are ever in a situation to where they need to pick up their bike; they will already be conditioned strength-wise to set it back up."  

Present for today's event were riders from Williamson and Travis County Sheriff Departments, Kileen, Houston, Mansfield, Lubbock, and San Angelo Police Departments.  

"Two events are schedule for tomorrow: the Memorial Fun Run for Sgt. Kennedy, and then the competition continues on the 'A' course (another sectioned off part of the lot at the Spur Arena)," said Solsbery. "Wednesday morning, we will have an opening ceremony and then the 'B' course competition. Today is a 'light day' and all of the rides begin at 8 a.m., but  tomorrow and Wednesday, we'll go [until] it's done so it just might go into the afternoon."  

Although there weren't many spectators from the community for today's event, Solsbery said, "We figure it being during the work week and in the daytime, there wouldn't be that many spectators out here, but we encourage people to come out if they can."  

It takes a tremendous amount of strength and agility to do what these literal athletes demonstrated today, so as Sgt Solsbery said, "It's worth while to come check it out as it's something they won't get to see very often. There's even some of our guys, who work in our division, who have never seen anything like this before so it's good to see and pretty impressive.

Also, Solsbery wanted to add, as mentioned in a previous statement, the Flag Football games will not be canceled after all, and will be held on Thursday instead of Wednesday so it doesn't conflict with the Track and Field event.

The TPGs are open to Active Duty and retired law enforcement, firefighters, and military. Military members are allowed to have one guest compete with them. Please see prior story here.

For the event schedule and more information on the 2016 Texas Police Games, please visit SAPD's Facebook page or http://www.texaspolicegames.org.