City officials still say the small motorcycle patrol is a great addition to the Auburn Police Department, despite a slow start last fall and an accident that hospitalized one officer.

The APD will integrate the two Harley Davidson motorcycles into the force in the spring, Police Chief Gary Giannotta said.

It will take thousands of dollars worth of repair work to put one of the bikes back into commission.

In September, officer Anthony Oughterson collided with a motorcycle rider and suffered a concussion. Oughterson was riding southbound on North Street with his emergency lights flashing when the department's bike struck a motorcycle stopped at the intersection of Lansing Street.

Oughterson is on light duty, not yet back to full status. Giannotta expects the bike will be back in use in May.

The insurance will cover the majority of the repairs, but the city will still have to pay a portion of the bill, Giannotta said. He doesn't know how much Auburn will have to pay.

So far the city has received repair bills totaling $7,131, and additional expenses related to getting the motorcycle back on the road are expected.

Comptroller Lisa Green said the city already received compensation from the insurance company for about $6,000.

The community and the department approved of the program, Giannotta said. However, the APD didn't have all the interested officers trained last fall, so Giannotta aims to get the remaining officers certified so by spring, the program will be up and running with the motorcycles integrated in the schedule. The officers can ride the bikes from roughly April to October, when weather permits. During the winter, the dealership will store them.

City Manager Mark Palesh doesn't see the accident as a changing factor either.

“It is a little more dangerous than driving a car, but as far as visibility... and public relations, it's a good way to go,” he said.

The city will continue to offer training to interested employees. The training is required to participate in the program. Interested officers who have experience on motorcycles have to be certified to ride “on the job,” Palesh said.

“You ride a little differently. Your attention is different, you have to be looking for things,” he said.

The city signed a two-year lease for both of the motorcycles last year, and pays $4,800 annually for each.

Council approved the 2007-2008 budget that contained the motorcycle program. The Electra-Glides would make officers more visible and more approachable, Palesh said. Also, the vehicles save the city money for fuel and maintenance expenses.

Giannotta doesn't expect the insurance company will increase the city rates.

“It's not like we have regular accidents,” he said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net