Motorcycle officers from across the region gathered last week at Dulles Town Center for the 47th annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Rodeo, a competition and training event designed to test and enhance their riding skills. The event culminated with competitions held on Saturday, featuring a series of courses that challenged officers’ precision, speed, and control.
Riders navigated multiple cone-lined courses intended to simulate real-world scenarios such as maneuvering through tight spaces, changing lanes amid traffic, and executing sudden stops. One of the featured challenges was a slow-speed course, where officers aimed to balance their heavily equipped motorcycles without letting their feet touch the ground, all while moving as slowly as possible. Oliver Haugen of the Fairfax County Police Motor Squad completed the slow course in just over a minute, demonstrating a balance between control and momentum.
The event serves both as a competitive platform and a vital training ground for motor officers, many of whom undergo extensive preparation for their roles. Deputy Jeremy Krapfl of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office noted that this kind of training provides an alternative to traditional motor officer gatherings, which previously occurred primarily during funeral escorts. The rodeo originated 47 years ago when A.D. Johnson, a Prince George’s County police corporal, organized the event to create a more constructive way for motor officers to come together.
Preparing for duties as motor officers involves rigorous training including 80 hours of motor school followed by months of on-the-job practice. Officers develop skills in emergency braking, navigating curbs and crowded spaces, and handling off-road conditions to ensure they are prepared for the challenges of real traffic environments.
Thaddeus Kolwicz, a Fairfax police officer and vice president of the rodeo’s organizing group, emphasized the importance of precision during the competitions. “If you hit a single cone, you’re not going to win,” he said, adding that in real-life operations, such a mistake could represent hitting a pedestrian or another vehicle.
The Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Rodeo is open to the public and draws participants from diverse local and state law enforcement agencies, providing a platform for officers to both showcase their skills and strengthen camaraderie within the motor policing community.