Cape police get Harley donation

Until 2001, the Cape Girardeau Police Department had two motorcycles, one that worked and one it used for spare parts.

Sonny Minor of Minor's Harley-Davidson was familiar with those motorcycles, said police chief Steve Strong. Minor was the one repairing them.

Since then, after Minor worked out a program with Harley-Davidson, his company has been donating a motorcycle for the police department to use for six months. Friday morning, Minor donated a 2003 Dyna-Defender and presented the department with a 2004 Dyna-Defender for six months.

Most police departments lease motorcycles, said Michele Tumbleson, a service writer for Minor's Harley-Davidson. The Cape Girardeau Police Department, through its arrangement with Minor's, pays nothing.

After six months, Minor will sell the used motorcycle as a demonstration model.

"If not for Minor's Harley-Davidson, there would not be a motorcycle unit at the police department," said Strong. "For the past four years, all the motorcycles and the equipment needed to outfit them have been donated."

The $1,200 worth of equipment to outfit the bikes -- sirens, decals, and so on -- is donated by a Kiwanis Club member who prefers to remain anonymous, Strong said.

The police department uses the Harleys for traffic enforcement, during parades, at special events and other enforcement operations.

"They're more versatile," Stong said. "An officer can get around better than he could in a car."

Minor and his wife, Barbara, said hard work and perseverance made it possible for them to afford to donate a 2003 Harley to the police department.

"We wanted to give something back to the community," he said.

The motorcycle business is celebrating its 33rd year, his wife said. Helping out the police department is their way of commemorating that.