Fort Lee Police Motorcycle Unit Members Thrive at Skills Competition

Members of the Fort Lee Police Motorcycle Unit brought home five trophies Sunday from a training and skills competition in Wayne, NJ benefiting the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Fort Lee Police Officer Rick Hernandez took second place in the “Novice Division,” Police Officer George Koutroubinis took second in the “Expert Division” and first place in the “Challenge Ride,” and Lt. Scott Bendul won second place trophies in both the “Master Division” and “Slow Ride” at the Police Motorcycle and Skills Training Competition.

Also taking part Sunday in the competition at Wayne’s Willowbrook Mall were Fort Lee Police Officers Glenn Iafrate, Justin Wanco, Gabriel Cappola and Rich Rochford—all of the Fort Lee Police Motorcycle Unit. 

“Several cone courses are designed to challenge the officer’s skill at handling their motorcycle,” explained Capt. Keith Bendul of the Fort Lee Police Department in an email. “These cone courses simulate traffic and other obstacles motorcycle officers may encounter while on patrol. There is also a Slow Ride where the officer is timed on their travel through a course. This involves going extremely slow and balancing the motorcycle. Finally there is a Challenge Ride where a complicated cone course is set up, a demonstration is conducted [and] officers must complete the course with no practice.”

The Fort Lee Police Department uses motorcycles to manage traffic in the borough, and the motorcycle unit operates under the Police Department’s Traffic Bureau, according to Bendul.

“Officers routinely participate in training to hone their skills,” he said.

The Special Olympics of New Jersey sponsors events throughout the year for people with disabilities. Sunday’s motorcycle competition came just two weeks after members of the Fort Lee Police Department participated in the Special Olympics New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run.