Thanks To The Men In Blue (Brian)

Last week, I know I’m lazy in getting this posted, yet another amazing event happened for Ian that will just add to the many wonderful memories we have been building together.  Thanks to the effort by our good friend Tzvi Haber, of Chai Lifeline, he was somehow someway able to convince the Baltimore County Police Department to allow us to bring Ian to a training session for the Motor Squad.  As you know from a previous post, there was another motorcycle ride organized for Ian by the Lonsmen MC, whom we are still very much in awe with, where originally Tzvi actually wanted to have the group escorted by the police.  However, due to liability issues that was not allowed.  So the next best thing was arranged, attending a short training session out in Sykesville. 

So Wednesday, June 11, we met with an officer at the Reisterstown precinct and followed him out to the training facility.  Upon arriving, we had to follow another gentleman to the driving course where we would be watching the motorcycles.  As we were getting closer, we see two officers on motorcycles drive past us, turn around and actually escort us to the course itself.  

Police escort to driving course upon arrival

Once we got to the course we see the other officers standing in front of their motorcycles at attention as if we are dignitaries or something like that.

Ian and Becca with BCPD Motor Squad.

After brief introductions and some generous gifts from the department, even a REAL police motorcycle helmet, it was time to meet the K-9 unit.  I do not know who was more excited…Ian, Becca or myself.  I love dogs and always wanted to meet a K-9 unit dog.  There’s always that fear and stigma that these animals are non-approachable because of their training.  Well that used to be the way but according to the K-9 unit officer, they changed that so newly trained dogs can and will interact with the public.  He did also say there are a number of dogs that you still cannot approach.  Below is a picture of Ace, the K-9 unit dog we met that day.  If you were to meet this dog on the street while he was being walked you would never ever think he is a trained killer with one simple command.  Ace is a 3 year old Dutch German Shepard who acted every bit the puppy.  He couldn’t get close enough and stay calm enough to show us what he could do.  But his handler was able to get him to sit next to Ian without moving a muscle for a couple of minutes.  Never would we be able to get Joey to do that, lol.

Above and Right: Ian and Ace, K-9 unit dog, saying hi and quickly becoming friends.

We sat and watched the officers maneuver a very tight and small course where they had to be able to navigate slowly around cones without knocking them over and in some instances in tight circles.  This exercise helps the officers for when they have to do an escort and need to stay in formation and move at a slower pace.  An amazing fact about this unit is how exclusive it is to the BCPD.  The gentlemen shown in the previous group picture are the ONLY 6 officers in the unit of the entire Baltimore County Police Department, not just one location.  That’s over 2,000 officers.  After that day there are now 7 members of the Police Department Motor Sqaud.  The 7^th member of the unit is, yup you guessed it….Ian.  He was given a winged pin that all the members and only the members of this unit wear.

Wings for the ELITE BCPD Motor Squad

Finally after an hour and a half, it was time to let the officers continue their training uninterrupted as well as time for us to leave and move on with our day.  I can and never will be able to extend my thanks to not only the Baltimore County Police Department for allowing us to attend but to Tzvi as well.  Tzvi you are an awesome person in your own right and your drive and enthusiasm to be able to do things such as this is a huge inspiration to me and my family.  Thank you all!