Motorcycle Acquisition to Aid in Park and Trail Accessibility for the Crystal Lake Park District Police Department

The Crystal Lake Park District Police Department recently acquired 3-2010 motorcycles originally designed for the U.S. Marines, through the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Clearinghouse. LESO facilitates a law enforcement support program which originated from the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1997. This law allows transfer of excess Department of Defense property that might otherwise be destroyed to law enforcement agencies across the United States and its territories. Through LESO, the Crystal Lake Park District police department acquired three motorcycles for free with a cost of a LESO membership.

This acquisition will increase officer’s visibility within the parks and allow officers to reach areas of parks that are inaccessible by other vehicles- all with the goal of continuing to keep criminal activity at a minimum in Crystal Lake Park District parks. In addition, officers on these motorcycles will be able to provide First Responder access. Fiscally, these motorcycles will benefit the Park District Police Department by allowing decreased mileage burden on existing fleet vehicles and as these are diesel cycles, Chief Dziewior is anticipating fuel economy of approximately 100 mpg.

“Five Park District Police Officers will receive training and certification on these cycles and the public may begin seeing their presence in the next few weeks, said Chief Dziewior. “The motorcycles are definitely unusual in that they look different that what is typically seen as a police motorcycle in this area. We really wanted to raise awareness to the public of the bigger purpose that these cycles will serve. The acquisition of these motorcycles through the LESO program allow the Crystal Lake Park District Police Department the chance to continue to fulfill its’ mission to serve Crystal Lake Park District residents and park users by providing visitor and natural resource protection at all Park District properties.”

Chief Dziewior encourages anyone with questions regarding the Crystal Lake Park District Police Department to contact him at (815) 356-2415 or via email ddziewior@crystallakeparks.org. The motorcycles plus several other Crystal Lake Park District vehicles along with Park Police Officers will be a part of Truck or Treat on Saturday, October 24, 10 am-Noon at Crystal Lake Main Beach. Admission is free and includes the chance to see and sit in/on all different kinds of trucks and vehicles while collecting candy and treats.