Announcer:VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: OK, I'M STANDING HERE WITH MOTOR INSTRUCTOR DARRYL HENSON, AND DARRYL, TELL US WHERE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE FROM.

ARE THESE ALL L.A.P.D.?

Darryl Henson: YES, SIR.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO OUR SCHOOL.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE A CLASS OF 14 RIGHT NOW, MADE UP OF 2 GUYS FROM ONTARIO P.D., 2 GUYS FROM L.A.X., AND ONE OFFICER FROM BEVERLY HILLS.

THE REST OF THE CLASS OF 14 ARE L.A. OFFICERS, AND THEY'RE ALL INVOLVED IN A 2-WEEK MOTORCYCLE RIDING PROGRAM, AND OF THAT 2 WEEKS, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXERCISES GOING ON HERE, AND YOU'RE HERE ON DAY 5 OF THE FIRST WEEK.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A 2-WEEK SCHOOL.

WE'RE GETTING READY JUST TO MOVE OUT AND BASICALLY TRAIN.

Huell: BOY, THEY ARE REVVED UP AND READY TO GO, AREN'T THEY?

THEY ENJOY THIS.

Darryl: YES, SIR, THEY DO.

WHAT WE DO IS WE START OFF VERY, VERY SLOW IN WHAT WE CALL OUR MAZES, WHICH WE'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER.

AND BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK AND INTO THE SECOND WEEK, WE ELEVATE THE EXERCISES AND MAKE THINGS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT, WHERE THEY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THEIR RIDING.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING HOW TO DO THIS?

Darryl: OK, FIRST OFF, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM TO GET GOOD TRANSITION ON THE HANDLE BARS SO THEY CAN WORK THE HANDLE BARS BACK AND FORTH SMOOTHLY.

UM, UNDERSTANDING THE FRICTION POINT ON THE MOTORCYCLE, SO THEY'RE WORKING THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKE AND THE THROTTLE ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AND THEN WE HAVE THEM DOING THESE NINETIES SO THAT THEY CAN GET USED TO WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET IN SOME KIND OF SLIPPERY SUBSTANCE OUT THERE IN THE ROADWAY.

THEY WON'T PANIC.

THEY'LL BE USED TO IT, AND THEY CAN RIDE OUT OF IT.

Huell: THIS IS TOUGH RIGHT HERE.

Darryl: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

NOW, ANOTHER PART OF IT THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IS WHEN IT STARTS GETTING REALLY COMPETITIVE, THE GUY ON THE INSIDE HERE, IF HE COMES IN TOO HOT, HE'LL SLIDE INTO THIS OTHER GUY'S PATHWAY, AND THEN THEY COULD HAVE A COLLISION, SO WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY KEEP A COOL HEAD.

Huell: OK, HERE HE COMES.

OH, WOW.

Huell: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE SUITABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE SKILL TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

Darryl: WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF PREPARATION BEFORE THEY SHOW UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE CALL THIS OUR MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION COURSE.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE REFINING WHAT A LOT OF THESE OFFICERS ALREADY KNOW WHEN THEY GET HERE, AND-- Huell: FROM JUST THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE?

Darryl: WELL, FROM DOING THEIR HOMEWORK AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DEMAND OF THEM WHEN THEY GET HERE.

AND THE SPEED AND THE TEMPO THAT WE KEEP IN THIS COURSE IS VERY DIFFICULT, AND IF THEY DON'T KEEP UP, THEN WE SEND THEM HOME.

Huell: SO WE'RE NOT SURE THAT ALL THESE GUYS ARE GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE COURSE.

Darryl: WELL, PRETTY MUCH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SEE HERE TODAY--THIS IS DAY 5--PRETTY MUCH THE PEOPLE WE SEE HERE TODAY WILL PROBABLY ALL MAKE IT.

Huell: OH, WOW.

SOME OF THEM GET INTO IT A LITTLE MORE THAN OTHERS, DON'T THEY?

Darryl: THEY DO.

Huell: HA!

[TIRES SCREECH] Woman: YOU CAN NEVER TOTALLY RELAX HERE AT ALL BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE GIVE THEM IS CHALLENGING, AND JUST WHEN THEY THINK THEY'RE GOOD AND THEY'VE MASTERED SOMETHING, WE THROW SOMETHING NEW AT THEM.

Huell: BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT LIFE AS A MOTORCYCLE OFFICER IS ALL ABOUT ANYWAY?

Woman: YES, IT IS.

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

Huell: THEY HAVE TO BE READY FOR THINGS THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TRAINED FOR.

Woman: EXACTLY.

THERE WILL BE TIMES OUT HERE WHERE THEY RUN IN THE DIRT.

THEY MAY GO ONTO THE BEACH.

THEY GO ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO WE EXPOSE THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE GOT OUT AND RIDE IN THE DIRT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

Huell: UH-HUH.

OH, WE'RE GONNA RIDE IN THE DIRT LATER?

Woman: YES, WE ARE.

OH, IN THE WHOLE BASIN AROUND HERE.

WE GO UP HILLS.

Huell: BOY, HE JUST DID A REAL GOOD SLIDE OVER THERE.

Woman: YES, YES.

Huell: IS THAT A GOOD THING OR NOT?

Woman: YES, WE TEACH THEM, EVEN WHEN THEY DO FALL, TO STAY ON THE BRAKE.

IF YOU COME OFF THE BRAKE, YOU'RE GONNA HIGH-SLIDE OFF THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET INJURED.

SO WE TEACH THEM THE SAFETY ASPECT OF HOW TO SLIDE THE MOTORCYCLE SAFELY.

AND THEY ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, SNAP THEIR HEAD AROUND, AND OFF THEY GO.

AND THIS IS CONTROLLED, AGGRESSIVE RIDING.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

IT'S WHAT?

Woman: CONTROLLED, AGGRESSIVE RIDING.

Huell: CONTROLLED, AGGRESSIVE RIDING.

Woman: YES.

Huell: SO HE'S CONTROLLED.

Woman: EXACTLY.

Huell: BUT HE'S AGGRESSIVE.

Woman: HE HAS CONTROL OF THAT MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: LET'S FOLLOW HIM AROUND, CAMERA.

BOY, HE'S-- Woman: HE'S VERY GOOD.

Huell: VERY GOOD.

Woman: COME ON, PAUL!

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROL, AND HE'S GOT IT.

[TIRES SCREECH] Woman: COME ON, STEVE!

LET'S GO!

HE'S CATCHING YOU!

Man: GO, STEVE!

Huell: NOW, SERGEANT, WE'VE COME UP HERE OVERLOOKING OUT OVER THE TRACK AT WHAT?

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT HERE?

IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST A VERY LONG OBSTACLE COURSE DOWN THERE.

Darryl: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

WE CALL THIS THE ROAD COURSE, AND IT INCORPORATES NUMEROUS DIFFERENT TASKS THAT THESE MOTOR OFFICERS HAVE TO COMPLETE.

THERE'S A TIGHT CIRCLE UP THERE FIRST, AND THEN THEY COME DOWN SINGLE FILE, AND THEY GO THROUGH A HARD LEFT TURN, THEN THEY DO A LARGE WEAVE, AND THEN THEY COME BACK THROUGH ANOTHER TIGHT CONE PATTERN, WHICH BRINGS THEM-- Walkie-talkie: DARRYL?

Darryl: WHICH WILL BRING THEM ULTIMATELY TO WHERE THEY'RE RIDING SIDE BY SIDE AGAIN.

Huell: NOW, WHAT KIND OF SKILLS DOES THIS TEACH THEM?

Darryl: WELL, IT TEACHES THEM TEAMWORK.

IT TEACHES THEM TO BE ALERT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THIS MOTORCYCLE, AND IT ALL SIMULATES STUFF THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO DO OUT THERE IN TRAFFIC.

Huell: DO THEY WORK IN TEAMS OR BY THEMSELVES?

Darryl: BOTH.

THEY'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH OTHER MOTOR OFFICERS OR IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN OFTENTIMES DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, THEY'LL BE WORKING BY THEMSELVES.

BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BE CONFIDENT IN EACH OTHERS' ABILITY, SO OVERALL, ALL THESE MOTOR OFFICERS HAVE TO HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO RIDE VERY CLOSELY WITH ANOTHER MOTOR OFFICER WITHOUT ENDANGERING THEMSELVES OR THE OTHER PARTY.

Huell: NOW, HOW DANGEROUS IS IT TO BE AN L.A.P.D.

MOTORCYCLE OFFICER?

Darryl: WELL, BEING A MOTOR OFFICER ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS.

PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Huell: WHY IS THAT?

Darryl: WELL, THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH NOT ONLY CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC, THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE 700 POUND MOTORCYCLE OUT THERE.

Huell: SO THEY'RE THINKING OF A COUPLE OF THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY'RE THINKING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEY'VE ALSO GOT TO BE IN CONTROL OF THESE BIG MOTORCYCLES.

Darryl: ABSOLUTELY, AND IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT THEM THROUGH THE RIGORS OF THIS TRAINING PROGRAM.

Huell: DO YOU EVER REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PREPARED WHEN THEY--I MEAN, THEY'RE PREPARED TECHNICALLY, BUT REALLY, SOME OF IT JUST TAKES EXPERIENCE, DOESN'T IT?

Darryl: YES, IT DOES, AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE OFFICERS CRASHES, WE GET A COPY OF THE REPORT, AND WE REVIEW IT, BEING THE TRAINING CADRE, AND QUITE HONESTLY, THERE'S A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING THAT GOES ON WHEN THERE'S A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS TO WHETHER WE DID THE BEST POSSIBLE JOB WE COULD IN TRAINING THESE GUYS AND PREPARING THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO FACE OUT HERE.

Huell: TELL US WHAT KIND OF BIKES THEY'RE TRAINING ON HERE.

Darryl: WELL, HUELL, THIS IS A KAWASAKI POLICE 1000.

THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE PROBABLY SINCE 1982 WITHOUT ANY REAL CHANGES TO THE BIKE ITSELF.

UH, WE TAKE A STREET BIKE, AND WE REMOVE A FEW PARTS LIKE THE FAIRING AND THE SADDLEBAGS, AND WE USE IT OUT HERE FOR THE TRAINING, BOTH ON THE ASPHALT AND WHEN WE GO OUT TO THE SOFT SURFACE INTO THE DIRT.

Huell: NOW, IS THIS THE SAME KIND OF BIKE THAT THEY'LL BE RIDING WHEN THEY BECOME MOTORCYCLE--YOU KNOW, OUT ON THE STREET?

Darryl: IT CERTAINLY IS.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY'LL BE, EXCEPT THEY HAVE THE FAIRING AND THE SADDLEBAGS ON IT.

YEAH.

WE DON'T EVEN CHANGE THE TIRES OR ANYTHING.

Huell: LET'S HEAR THAT.

[WOMAN REVS ENGINE] Huell: SHE LIKES TO REV IT UP, DOESN'T SHE?

Darryl: AH, THERE YOU GO.

Huell: HA!

IS THIS A GOOD BIKE?

DO YOU LIKE-- Woman: THEY'RE VERY RELIABLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA SEE WHAT THEY DO TO THEM A LITTLE LATER ON, AND THEY KEEP RUNNING.

IT'S PHENOMENAL.

Huell: TURN THAT THING BACK ON.

I LIKE THE POWER OF IT, THE WAY IT SOUNDS WHEN YOU REV IT UP LIKE THAT.

Woman: THEY'RE PRETTY QUIET BIKES, ACTUALLY, AS OPPOSED TO THE HARLEYS.

Huell: AND ARE THEY PRETTY MANEUVERABLE?

CAN YOU--CAN YOU-- Woman: YES.

YOU CAN JUMP OFF CURBS, YOU CAN MAKE TIGHT TURNS.

YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THESE THINGS.

Huell: DO A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR US HERE.

SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO.

NOW, YOU DON'T ENCOURAGE THIS KIND OF HOT-DOGGING, DO YOU?

Darryl: WELL, SHE WON'T DO ANY HOT-DOGGING OUT HERE.

[WOMAN SPEAKING UNINTELLIGIBLY] Huell: WHAT'D YOU SAY?

Woman: I CAN JUST SIT HERE ON THE MOTORCYCLE, PRETTY MUCH.

VERY SLOW SPEEDS.

THEY GO UP AND DOWN THESE.

Darryl: WHEN WE TAKE THESE OUT TO THE DIRT, HUELL, WHEN THE STUDENTS FALL DOWN ON THEM, TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN, WE JUST PICK THEM UP, DUST THEM OFF, AND AWAY THEY GO.

Woman: YOU CAN DROP IT ON THE GROUND...WHICH THEY DO A LOT OF TIME IN THIS SCHOOL.

Huell: NOW, THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET SOMEWHERE WHERE A CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED, YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU WANT TO JUST BE ABLE TO JUMP OFF THE BIKE.

IS THAT THE IDEA?

Woman: NO, NO.

HA HA HA!

YOU DON'T WANT TO REALLY EVER JUMP OFF THE BIKE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE TO, WE TELL THEM TO GET AWAY FROM IT 'CAUSE THERE'S MOVING PARTS THAT YOU CAN GET TANGLED UP IN AND GET YOURSELF HURT.

THEN WE SHOW THEM HOW TO PICK THE BIKE UP PROPERLY AS WELL TO SAVE YOUR BACK.

UNH!

TURN THE HANDLEBARS IN.

YOU WANT TO GRAB THE LOWER HANDLEBAR AND JUST WALK RIGHT UP TO THE MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: NOW LET IT DROP AGAIN.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

THAT IS AMAZING.

Woman: THE CRASH BAR IS THERE TO HELP SAVE THE MAJOR PART OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: ARE YOU GONNA PICK IT UP THE RIGHT WAY AGAIN?

Woman: TURN THE HANDLEBARS UP, HANDS UNDERNEATH, AND YOU JUST WALK RIGHT UP TO IT.

YOU WANNA TRY IT?

HA HA HA!

Huell: WE GOT 2 INSTRUCTORS HERE.

FELLAS, BEFORE YOU BECAME INSTRUCTORS, YOU WERE OUT ON THE STREET RIDING MOTORCYCLES.

HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU OUT ON THE STREET?

Man: I WAS OUT ON THE STREET FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR 16, BEEN TEACHING FOR THE LAST 10.

Huell: AND HAS IT STAYED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ALL THESE YEARS?

Man: YEAH, THE TRAINING'S BEEN VERY CONSISTENT, AND WHAT THESE OFFICERS ARE GOING THROUGH, WE'VE BASICALLY GONE THROUGH THE SAME THINGS.

Huell: PRETTY BASIC STUFF.

Man: PRETTY BASIC STUFF.

Huell: WHY DO PEOPLE WANT TO BE MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS?

Second man: WELL, IT'S A GREAT JOB.

IT'S LIKE AN INDEPENDENT AGENT OUT THERE.

YOU GET TO GO OUT AND MAKE ALL THESE CONTACTS WITH THE PUBLIC, TRY TO EDUCATE THEM, SLOW THEM DOWN, PREVENT ACCIDENTS.

THAT'S OUR MAIN FOCUS IN LIFE IS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, NOT HAVE PEOPLE CONTINUE DRIVING FAST OR DRUNK DRIVING OR WHATEVER.

IT'S TO GET OUT THERE AND TRY TO REDUCE FATALITIES.

Huell: YEAH.

YOU CAN ALSO KIND OF MOVE UP ON PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM EVEN KNOWING YOU'RE THERE.

Man: ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: 'CAUSE I'VE MET A COUPLE OF THESE.

I MAY HAVE MET YOU A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

Man: YEAH, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.

Huell: I THINK YOU LIGHTENED MY WALLET A LITTLE BIT.

OUT IN THE MID-WILSHIRE AREA, WASN'T IT?

Man: AGAIN, LIKE PHIL SAID, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO ISSUE TICKETS.

WE'RE OUT THERE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, SLOW THEM DOWN, AND TRY TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM AREAS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN THE CITY.

Huell: YEAH, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF A MYSTIQUE ABOUT MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS, TOO.

Man: 'CAUSE PEOPLE GENERALLY HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT ONCE THEY GET STOPPED BY A MOTOR OFFICER, THERE'S NO SCREWING AROUND.

THERE'S GONNA GET A TICKET.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE IMAGE THAT WE PORTRAY.

Huell: SO YOU'RE TOUGH.

Man: TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

Huell: I KNOW HE'S TOUGH.

YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND... Second man: WE'RE BOTH TOUGH.

WE HAVE TO BE.

WHEN YOU GO TO A FATAL ACCIDENT, AND YOU LOOK AND SEE WHAT CAUSED THAT ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT WAS SPEED OR DRINKING AND DRIVING OR SOMETHING, YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE, AND YOU DO WRITE A TICKET, AND YOU ARE EDUCATING THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS YOU GO TO THEIR HOUSE LATE AT NIGHT, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, TELL THEM THAT ONE OF THEIR LOVED ONES HAS PASSED AWAY BECAUSE OF A DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT, SO... Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

Second man: THE BEST TIME ON OUR CAREER, I REMEMBER BOTH OF US WORKING TOGETHER IN THE VALLEY, WAS DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT GETTING SOMEBODY INTO THE SYSTEM, HAVING THEM CORRECT THEIR PROBLEM OF DRINKING, AND NOT DRIVING, AND IT PREVENTS ACCIDENTS AND DEATH, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS.

AND THEN MOTOR OFFICERS GET OUT THERE, AND THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE IN DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SORRY I WAS KIDDING AROUND WITH YOU.

NOT SORRY I WAS KIDDING AROUND WITH YOU 'CAUSE... Man: HA HA HA!

HEY, I'M A NICE GUY.

I GAVE YOU MY SHIRT.

Huell: THAT'S RIGHT.

HE GAVE ME THIS SHIRT.

HE GAVE ME THIS SHIRT.

Man: THE SHIRT OFF MY BACK.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE, SERGEANT?

Darryl: OK, THIS IS CALLED THE CHALLENGER MAZE.

Huell: THE CHALLENGER MAZE!

Darryl: YEAH, AND THESE GUYS ARE PUT THROUGH THIS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES IN L.A., THEY MAY HAVE TO HANG A U-TURN ON A STREET THAT'S GOT A SLOPE ON IT, OR THEY'RE ON A HILLSIDE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING HOW TO DO IT.

NOW, IF HE WAS SITTING SOMEPLACE, AND SOMEONE WENT SPEEDING BY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND HE ONLY HAD A LANE TO MAKE A TURN THAT WAS ON A HILL, HE'LL BE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

Huell: THAT'S THE GUY FROM BEVERLY HILLS, ISN'T IT?

Darryl: I THINK IT IS.

LET'S SEE.

NO, THAT'S THE GUY FROM ONTARIO.

Huell: ONTARIO, RIGHT.

HERE COMES THE GUY FROM BEVERLY HILLS.

LET'S SEE HOW HE DOES.

NOW, WHAT'S HE STOPPED FOR RIGHT HERE?

Darryl: OK, RIGHT HERE WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THEIR FRONT TIRE RIGHT UP AGAINST THAT CONE AND STOPPED, AND THEN THEY TURN AND THEY TAKE OFF.

Huell: WOW, HE'S GOT THIS DOWN.

Darryl: YES, HE DOES.

HE'S A VERY GOOD RIDER.

Huell: NOW I'M TALKING WITH--YOUR NAME IS... Ulysses Taylor: TAYLOR, ULYSSES TAYLOR.

Huell: AND YOU HAVE BEEN A MOTORCYCLE OFFICER FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

Ulysses: UH, SINCE OCTOBER OF '94, SO A LITTLE OVER 9 YEARS.

Huell: SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Ulysses: I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW TO OPERATE A MOTORCYCLE OUT ON THE STREET, YES.

Huell: NOW, THERE'S A REAL KIND OF ESPRIT DE CORPS AMONG MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS, ISN'T THERE?

THIS IS A REAL ELITE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

Ulysses: VERY MUCH SO.

Huell: BASED UPON WHAT?

Ulysses: UM, IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE TO BE A MOTOR OFFICER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

THERE'S AN ORAL PROCESS.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR CAREER IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, BUT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, TRAFFIC EDUCATION, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WITHIN THE TRAFFIC COMMUNITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

Huell: SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHAT MEETS THE EYE BECAUSE WHAT MEETS THE EYE IS IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

Huell: BUT IT'S ALSO, IT WILL CAUSE YOU, AS ONE OF MY SENIOR INSTRUCTORS WOULD SAY, IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE ON A MOTORCYCLE OUT THERE, LIFE-ENDING AND/OR LIFE-ALTERING CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONSEQUENCES IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE OUT THERE.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE SKILLS THAT WE HOLD HERE ARE DEMONSTRATED OUT THERE ALL THE TIME.

Huell: YEAH.

IT'S A SERIOUS BUSINESS FROM DAY ONE.

Ulysses: VERY SERIOUS.

THE BEST RIDER IN MY MOTOR CLASS, HE WAS KILLED ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER WE GOT OUT, SO THAT'S HOW SERIOUS IT IS FOR ME.

Huell: IN WHAT WAY?

WHAT-- Ulysses: HE WAS A LOS ANGELES POLICE MOTOR OFFICER.

HIS NAME WAS VAN JOHNSON, AND HE WAS KILLED ON EIGHTH STREET CHASING A VIOLATOR, WHERE SOMEONE MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT OF HIM, AND THAT WAS OUR LAST FATALITY.

AND HE WAS AN EXCELLENT RIDER, BUT SOMEONE WHO WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE, MAKING A U-TURN FROM A CURB, CAUSED HIS DEATH.

Huell: BOY, THERE COMES ALCOHOL AGAIN, WHICH TENDS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM, ISN'T IT?

Ulysses: YES, IT IS.

IT IS A REAL PROBLEM AS OF TODAY.

I SAW ON TELEVISION SOMEONE WHO WAS BEING BOOKED IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER.

Huell: YEAH.

Ulysses: BUT IT'S THE SKILLS THEY TEACH ME HERE--SEE THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE?

HE WAS MY SENIOR INSTRUCTOR.

RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S DARRYL, DARRYL HENSON.

THAT'S MY SENIOR INSTRUCTOR.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANALOGY, AND I'M GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

Huell: COME ON OVER HERE.

Ulysses: I'VE GOT IT SIMPLE, SO MY SON CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE STAR WARS TRILOGY.

I'M BUT A YOUNG ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

THIS ISN'T OBI-WAN KENOBI.

THIS IS OUR YODA.

THIS IS THE MASTER.

HE'S TEACHING ME RIGHT NOW.

IT'S HIS JOB NOT JUST TO KEEP AN EYE ON ALL THE STUDENTS, ALL THE OTHER INSTRUCTORS.

ONE OF HIS JOBS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM ABLE TO GROW AS AN INSTRUCTOR.

I'M THE JUNIOR GUY, SO HE'S BASICALLY TRAINING ME FOR THE SECOND--OH, ACTUALLY, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN MY CAREER.

Huell: YEAH.

SO THIS REALLY IS PASSING DOWN ALMOST FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION THIS SENSE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MOTORCYCLE OFFICER FOR THE L.A.P.D.

Darryl: ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

MOTORS IN L.A. HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1913.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

I GREW UP IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

I GOT MY FIRST TICKET RUNNING DOWN ROSCOE BOULEVARD ON A BICYCLE.

A MOTOR OFFICER STOPPED ME AND WROTE ME A TICKET, IN FACT.

Huell: IS THAT WHEN YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO DO THAT YOURSELF SOMEDAY?

Darryl: BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: REALLY?

Darryl: SO THE PROGRAM'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND, UH, WE REQUIRE 400 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION BEFORE THEY'RE CERTIFIED AS MOTOR INSTRUCTORS, AND I THINK WITHIN LOS ANGELES, THIS IS ONE PROGRAM THAT'S TAKEN VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

IT'S A BIG CAREER MOVE FOR A GUY TO MOVE OUT OF A PATROL CAR ONTO A MOTORCYCLE, AND THE STUDENTS THAT COME HERE, THEY WANT TO BE HERE, AND THEY WANT TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

Huell: NOW, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT NOW?

Darryl: THIS IS EMERGENCY COMBINATION BRAKING.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO OUT HERE AT MOTOR SCHOOL IS TEACH A STUDENT HOW TO STOP A MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: EMERGENCY COMBINATION BRAKING.

Darryl: CORRECT.

Huell: WHOA!

Darryl: THRESHOLD BRAKING-- APPLYING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE IN COMBINATION AND NOT LOCKING UP THE TIRES ON THE MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: NOW, IS THAT THE SPECIALTY OF THIS INSTRUCTOR RIGHT OVER HERE?

Darryl: YES, IT IS.

WALLY CARR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR BRAKING OUT HERE AT MOTOR SCHOOL.

DAY ONE OF MOTOR SCHOOL, HE TAKES THE STUDENTS, GIVES THEM A ONE-HOUR LECTURE, FOLLOWED BY BRAKING VERY, VERY SLOWLY.

WE START AT 20 MILES AN HOUR, AND WE PROGRESS UP TO 40.

Huell: I'M GONNA WALK OVER HERE AND... HELLO!

HUELL HOWSER.

Wally Carr: WALLY CARR.

HOW ARE YOU, SIR?

Huell: I HEAR YOU'RE THE GUY THAT'S--THIS IS YOUR SPECIALTY RIGHT HERE.

Wally: HA HA!

WELL... Huell: NOW, DID HE DO THAT RIGHT?

Wally: HE DID THAT PRETTY GOOD.

NOT BAD, BUT WE NEVER TELL THEM IT'S PERFECT.

NICE AND EASY, TONY.

SQUEEZE IT.

COME ON, SQUEEZE IT.

THAT'S IT.

GOOD JOB.

Huell: WHAT IS IT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET INTO THEIR-- Wally: WE CALL THIS COMBINATION BRAKING, AND HE'S GOT TO USE THE FRONT BRAKE, THE REAR BRAKE IN COMBINATION.

THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED IN IT--DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, UTILIZING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE FRONT BRAKE AND THE REAR BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME.

Huell: HERE COMES ONE OVER HERE.

Wally: OK, JOHN.

COME ON, JOHN.

THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW A LITTLE MORE RIGHT IN THROUGH HERE, OK?

RIGHT IN THROUGH HERE.

REMEMBER, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS, ZERO THROUGH 10.

Huell: NOW, WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT ABOUT THIS?

WHAT IS IT THEY HAVE TO-- Wally: WELL, THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED IN IT.

THERE'S--NOT ONLY IS IT UTILIZING THE COMBINATION BRAKING.

WE START WITH THE BUILDING BLOCKS, A GOOD FOUNDATION, AND THAT IS KEEPING THEIR BACK STRAIGHT, THEIR HEAD AND EYES UP.

THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING, HIGH VISUAL HORIZON.

WE WANT THEM TO KEEP THEIR HEAD AND EYES UP.

AND AS THEY APPROACH THE TARGET HERE, THEY'RE GOING--OH.

COME ON, NOW.

DON'T COAST ON ME.

DON'T COAST.

AND AS THEY APPROACH THE TARGET CONE HERE AT 40 MILES PER HOUR, THAT'S WHEN THEY'VE GOT TO GO INTO THEIR COMBINATION BRAKING, AND WHAT WE TEACH THEM IN THE CLASSROOM THE FIRST DAY, AGAIN, THE BUILDING BLOCKS AND THE GOOD FOUNDATION.

KEEP THEIR BACK STRAIGHT, THEIR HEAD AND EYES UP, THEIR SEAT COMFORTABLY IN THE SADDLE, AND THEIR FEET RESTING COMFORTABLY ON THE FOOTBOARDS.

Huell: NOW, WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TO STOP THAT QUICKLY IN REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS?

Wally: WELL, YOU MIGHT HAVE A U-TURNER OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU MIGHT, UH...OK, GOOD.

JUST STAY ON THE FRONT.

UM, OUT THERE IN THE REAL LIFE, IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT MODE, THEY'RE GONNA BE GOING UP AGAINST A LOT OF OBSTACLES.

THERE'S A LOT OF DRIVERS OUT THERE THAT ARE IMPATIENT, THAT AREN'T EXACTLY THE BEST DRIVERS IN THE WORLD, AND WE TEACH THEM HERE AT MOTOR SCHOOL, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE BRAKING, ALWAYS, ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION.

ALWAYS ANTICIPATE THE WORST HAPPENING.

IF SOMEBODY PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE THESE SKILLS AND THESE FUNDAMENTALS IN ORDER TO STOP THAT MOTORCYCLE.

Huell: BOY, I NEVER HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

Wally: OK, NOW KEEP IT... Huell: THEY'RE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE WORST DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

Wally: EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

AND THEY'RE OUT THERE FOR 10, 12 HOURS A DAY.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY OUT THERE IN 10-HOUR SHIFTS, BUT THEY'VE GOT TO GO TO AND FROM HOME, SO THE FATIGUE FACTOR SETS IN.

THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUOUSLY RUN THEM ALL THE TIME.

WE WANT THAT FATIGUE FACTOR TO KICK IN BECAUSE AFTER A 10- OR 12-HOUR WATCH OUT THERE, A SHIFT, THEY'VE GOT TO GO HOME, AND THEY BETTER BE ON BOARD WHEN THEY GET HOME, ON THEIR WAY, SO THAT THEY MAKE IT IN ONE PIECE.

Huell: SO THEY'RE COMING DOWN HERE AT 40 MILES PER HOUR.

Wally: CORRECT.

Huell: AND JUST JAMMING ON THE BRAKES.

Wally: NO, WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THAT TERM JAMMING.

[HUELL LAUGHS] Wally: NICE, SMOOTH, FIRM APPLICATION.

Huell: HERE WE GO.

Wally: AND THAT'S WHAT THAT IS, A NICE--DAY ONE, WHEN THEY CAME OUT HERE-- Huell: THEY WERE JAMMING.

Wally: THEY WERE JAMMING.

NOW WE GRADUALLY BRING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE GRADUALLY BUILD THEIR SPEED UP AND GET THEM UP TO 40.

IT TAKE 5 DAYS TO GET THEM UP TO 40.

Man: THIS IS THE TOUGHEST THING I EVER HAD TO LEARN.

Huell: REALLY?

Man: YEAH, IT'S PRETTY CLOSE.

Huell: WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

Man: WELL, BECAUSE THEY THROW A LOT OF THINGS AT YOU, AND YOU'RE USING YOUR MIND, YOU'RE USING YOUR HAND-EYE COORDINATION, YOU'RE USING JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY.

I MEAN, MUSCLE CONTROL, EVERYTHING COMES INTO PLAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE YOUNGEST GUY OUT HERE, SO I HAVE TO ALWAYS BE THINKING, ALWAYS BE AWARE, AND JUST ALWAYS CONCENTRATE ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT'S SO CRITICAL.

Huell: WERE YOU COMFORTABLE ON A BIKE BEFORE YOU GOT HERE?

TAKE OFF YOUR HELMET.

LET'S GET A GOOD LOOK AT YOU.

WERE YOU COMFORTABLE ON A BIKE BEFORE YOU STARTED SCHOOL?

Man: WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD RIDDEN MOTORCYCLES BEFORE, BUT IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 10 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME I HAD RIDDEN ONE, AND, YOU KNOW, BEING A MILITARY PERSON, I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW.

SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING, ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT YOU JUST WOULD NOT BELIEVE, AND THEN TO COME HERE, IT'S LIKE...THIS IS SERIOUS.

Huell: SO THIS IS AS TOUGH AS SPECIAL FORCES?

Man: IN A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PHYSICAL.

YOU'RE DOING--YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A MISSION.

YOU'RE DOING AN ACT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, JUST BRUTE FORCE AND YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR REACTION TIME TAKES INTO PLACE.

BUT HERE, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, 700, 800 POUNDS UNDER YOU, WHICH YOU HAVE TO BALANCE AND CONTROL AND-- YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M OUT HERE, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IF I'M ON THE STREETS AND SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE.

SO--AND PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST THING, THE HARDEST THING IS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT VERY BAD, AND I THINK MOST OF THE OFFICERS IN HERE.

AND SO YOU TEND TO PUT A LITTLE EXTRA PRESSURE ON YOURSELF.

SO I ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M GONNA DO, AND THEN DO IT.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE INSTRUCTORS ARE GOOD ABOUT THAT.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOUR NAME?

Man: I'M JOHN WILSON.

Huell: AND YOU'LL BE OUT ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

John: I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

Huell: ON THE STREETS OF L.A. John: BUT LET ME GET A COUPLE DAYS SLEEP BEFORE YOU SEND ME OUT THERE.

Huell: GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

John: THANK YOU, SIR.

Huell: AND CONGRATULATIONS.

John: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PROUD TO BE HERE.

Huell: NOW THIS IS A CONFIDENCE-BUILDER, ISN'T IT?

Darryl: YES, IT IS.

WHAT WE FIND--THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY RIDE MOTORCYCLES.

THEY'RE AWAY FROM MOTORCYCLES FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND WHEN THEY COME HERE TO L.A.P.D.

MOTOR SCHOOL, BY PUTTING THEM OUT IN THE DIRT A LITTLE BIT EVERY AFTERNOON FOR THE FIRST 7 DAYS, WE FIND IT GIVES THEM AN AWFUL LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

IT TEACHES THEM TO HOLD ON TO THE FRONT END...

APPLY THE CONTROLS AS NECESSARY, COME OFF THE CONTROLS AS NECESSARY.

LIKE RIGHT UP THERE AT THE TOP.

HE'S HAVING TO PULL HIS CLUTCH IN.

HE DIDN'T DO VERY WELL THAT TIME, BUT PULL HIS CLUTCH IN, STEP ON THE BRAKE, AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL.

Ulysses: LOOK UP.

KEEP THE GAS ON.

KEEP GOING.

PERFECT.

RIDE THAT REAR BRAKE ON DOWN.

Darryl: OFF THE BRAKE!

OFF THE BRAKE!

HA HA HA!

FIRST GEAR!

HEE HEE HEE.

SOMETIMES IT POPS OUT OF GEAR, TOO.

[HUELL LAUGHS] Darryl: IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR THEM NOW.

THIS I WHERE WE CAN GET THEM IN A STRESS ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN THEY GET OUT INTO A PURSUIT, CHASING A MOTORIST.

IT'S LEARNING MATURITY, STAYING WITHIN THE TECHNIQUE, NOT OVERRIDING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO INSTILL-- Huell: OVERRIDING.

Darryl: OVERRIDING.

IN OTHER WORDS, OUT OF CONTROL.

HA, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OUT OF CONTROL.

AND HERE, THE DIRT IS FORGIVING, WHERE IF THEY DO GO DOWN, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET HURT.

BUT THIS TEACHES THEM IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE.

Darryl: OVERALL, THESE GUYS ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.

Huell: AND THIS HAS GOT TO HELP BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE.

Darryl: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF BEING A MOTOR COP, A SOUND MOTOR COP, IS HAVING THAT CONFIDENCE.

THIS HAS TO BE SECOND NATURE WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE RIDING.

OUT HERE, WE'VE GOT ALL THE INSTRUCTORS, ALL WEEK.

WE'RE YELLING AT THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING.

WE HAVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY THE WAY YOU PRACTICE, AND PRACTICE THE WAY THAT YOU PLAY, SO WE WANT IT DONE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE NOT AROUND, CARRYING OUT IN THE STREET AND CONTINUING TO RIDE SAFELY.

READY?

GIVE ME A HEAD SHAKE.

Huell: THERE THEY GO!

Huell: THIS IS A LOT OF FUN, JUST WATCHING.

Darryl: HUELL, THIS IS L.A.P.D.

MOTOR SCHOOL AT ITS BEST, RIGHT HERE, SIR.

Huell: YEAH.

AND ARE YOU CONFIDENT OF THEIR ABILITIES WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE?

BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING OUT INTO A MEAN WORLD.

Darryl: ABSOLUTELY I AM.

HECK, I'M HONORED JUST TO STAND NEXT TO SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHEN WE GET OUT THERE.

THE MOTOR COPS ARE A GOOD BUNCH OF GUYS.

THE 21 YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB, THEY'RE ALWAYS THE GUYS, WHEN THE BELL RINGS, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THERE, AND I'M DAMN PROUD OF THAT.

Man: COME ON, STEVE!

LOOK OUT!

[MOTORS REVVING] Huell: GO AHEAD!

Woman: COME ON, STEVE!

YOU GOT IT!

GO!

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org] Announcer:VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...