DEPUTIES HEAD OFF-ROAD; MOTORCYCLE TEAM WILL RIDE ANYWHERE : STAFF WRITER.

Byline: Greg Botonis

Using a federal grant, the Palmdale sheriff's station is creating a motorcycle unit that will crack down on motorcyclists riding off-road illegally.

Palmdale sheriff's officials said they have received more than 250 complaints since 1998 about off-road motorcyclists making noise or trespassing on private property, but could only chase them using helicopters, which are very expensive to operate.

``In a sense we are going to fight fire with fire,'' said detail organizer Sgt. Russ Hill, a motorcyclist since he was 12.

Tracks from motorcycles cover much of the open land around Palmdale, especially the hills along the city's southern edge, but riding there is illegal.

After the closure in January of the Littlerock offroad area because of the endangered southwestern arroyo toad, the closest designated offroad area is in the Angeles National Forest near Agua Dulce.

``We need to educate people on where they can ride and where they can't,'' Hill said. ``Obviously, people are going to get upset if motorcycles are racing through their back yards or right behind their houses.''

Sheriff's officials expect to purchase six motorcycles early next year and begin training six deputies. Deputies will work on overtime during weekends or other periods when complaints about illegal motorcycle riding are most common, officials said.

The Palmdale City Council last week gave the Sheriff's Department approval to buy six Honda XR125 motorcycles, costing a total $34,748, and $2,377 worth of safety equipment including protective pants, jerseys, gloves, goggles, helmets, chest protectors and boots for six deputies.

The motorcycle deputies will wear green-and-white chest protectors marked with the department's star.

Funding for the program, including $30,844 in overtime pay, is from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program.

Motorcycle details have been very successful in other counties, sheriff's officials said.

``I believe it will provide a closer bond with the community,'' Hill said, ``while showing them that we are doing everything we can to take care of their complaints.''

Motorcycles will be used not only to chase off-road riders, but also in situations ranging from controlling traffic to serving search warrants.

``We'll use them anywhere people wouldn't expect to see us,'' Hill said. ``They wouldn't think to run and hide because they wouldn't expect an officer on a dirt bike.''

Although the team has not yet been selected, Hill has been assigned as the first member. He said there are many Palmdale deputies who have ridden off-road motorcycles for years and even raced.

``The only reason it will be hard to pick the team is because of the excess of talented riders,'' Hill said. ``We have guys who have grown up here and have been riding since 5 or 6 years old, guys who have ridden in competitions.''

The deputies will get training through the U.S. Forest Service and the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, beginning with basic skills of patrolling on motorcycles and progressing through ways to minimize injury and damage in a crash.