SHERIFF BRIAN BEGOLE, Undersheriff Butch Brancheau, and Sergeant Doug Chapman showed off the county’s new Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Durand and Laingsburg on Saturday, May 20. The trio can be seen at the line-up preceding the Durand Railroad Days Parade. The motorcycle will be used for traffic enforcement, military funeral escorts, festival patrol details, as well as for community outreach purposes such as leading parades and showing off at local schools.
The Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is leasing the motorcycle from Vehicle City Harley-Davidson in Flint for $2,000 per year. The money to lease the bike was generated by the federal 1033 Program, so no money from the Shiawassee County General Fund was used. The 1033 Program, which was created by the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997, allows excess military equipment to be transferred to civilian law enforcement agencies. The county then sold some of that equipment to fund the $2,000 lease.
The SCSO has received donations from several individuals, businesses, and governing bodies to accessorize the motorcycle. Grand Blanc Township donated the back box, Great Lakes Public Safety donated some lights, Livingston County Sergeant Ryan Voorhies and Sheriff Mike Murphy donated helmets and leather riding boots and jackets, and Agnew Graphics Signs & Promotions donated the detailing/graphics work.
Independent Photo/Graham Sturgeon)
