Harley-Davidson helps to kick-start police unit BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer DAVE BENJAMIN Jackson police and municipal officials accept the donation of a Road King Police Bike from representatives of Harley-Davidson of Ocean County. For story, see page 21. JACKSON - It isn't very often that a police department gets a $19,000 gift like this one. In fact, it has been 20 or more years since any officer in the Jackson Police Department has had the opportunity to mount something like this, according to Public Safety Director Christopher Dunton. And while one high ranking officer said he has never seen a photograph anywhere of a Jackson police officer on one of these, there were a lot of officers and township officials lined up to eye a new beauty who had just arrived in town. It seemed like everyone wanted to be first in line to take a ride on the white two-wheeler with red and blue lights, a loud horn and a siren with a wail that will make a speeding motorist stop dead in his tracks. The police department's newest vehicle comes straight from Harley-Davidson. "We're donating a Road King Police Bike to the Jackson Police Department," said Asa G. Murray, president of Harley-Davidson of Ocean County, Lakewood. "It's fully equipped with police safety equipment and it's certainly ready to go. I think they'll find they will be able to use it for public relations with the people of Jackson and [they will be able to] get closer to the community's residents." Dunton said he thinks this is a terrific opportunity for the police department "It gives us an extra hand with traffic enforcement," he said. "We're excited," said Capt. Matthew Kunz, uniform service commander for the patrol and traffic divisions. "This is a new venture for the police department. It's a new tool for us, which will give us more opportunities to do more good work in the township." Kunz thanked Harley-Davidson of Ocean County for its generosity. "A lot of officers are expressing their interest in training and being able to participate in a motorcycle program," said Kunz. "We have a lot of work ahead of us in establishing that, but it's exciting work and we look forward to it." Mayor Sean Giblin thanked the dealership for its generosity. "They've been a partner in Ocean County law enforcement for many years and to come to Jackson and donate something like this to Jackson's finest police force is a great opportunity," the mayor said. "We accept the motorcycle and look forward to giving our police department the tools necessary to do what they do best, [secure] the safety and welfare of our residents." Township Committeeman Mike Kafton also expressed his appreciation for the donation. After the keys to the motorcycle had been turned over to the police department, general sales manager Rick Mustardo and salesman Bill Wade offered a brief training session for those on hand and explained some of the bike's safety features. "It was great donating the motorcycle," Mustardo said. "It's going to allow accessibility to a lot of different places for the Jackson police and it will give them a little [more] high profile." Other local police departments that have received motorcycles from Harley-Davidson of Ocean County include Lakewood and Brick.