Published in the July 15, 2015 edition
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT and Kelly Automotive Group renewed the lease for the police department’s Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide motorcycle for the fourth straight year on July 9. From left, Police Chief David Breen, Kelly Automotive President Brian Kelly, patrolman Patrick Curran, Kelly Jeep Chrysler Vice President Brian Kelly Jr. and Kelly Automotive Group Director of Operations Brian Heney. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The police department and Kelly Automotive Group came together for the fourth straight year to renew the lease for the police department’s motorcycle on July 9.
The four-year partnership between the police department and Kelly Automotive Group began in February 2012, when Police Chief David Breen and patrolman Ray Barnes reached out to Kelly Automotive Group President Brian Kelly about funding a motorcycle lease for the department. Kelly agreed to fund the lease in May 2012.
Four years later, the police department and Kelly renewed their partnership at a small press conference held at Kelly Jeep Chrysler, 353 Broadway. The motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide, a six-speed bike that is fuel injected.
“This is a year-by-year lease,” said Breen. “Brian has donated the money for the bike the past four years, which is great for the taxpayer. Without Brian, we wouldn’t be able to afford it.”
Breen noted the selectmen and voters at April Town Meeting approved the police department’s request to purchase two cruisers as part of the town’s capital budget for fiscal year 2016. He said the town needed an additional cruiser after one of the police department’s vehicles was totaled in a motor vehicle accident near MarketStreet.
“We didn’t have any extra money to fund the motorcycle,” said Breen. “It’s gracious of Brian Kelly and Kelly Auto Group to support the community of Lynnfield like they have.”
Kelly said he is more than happy to continue funding the motorcycle for the police department.
“We like to help everybody we can, but there are some things that are near and dear to my heart and law enforcement is one of them,” said Kelly. “The town of Lynnfield has been very good to us and we are returning the favor.”
Patrolman Patrick Curran will be replacing Barnes as the town’s new motorcycle officer. He transferred from Winthrop to Lynnfield recently and will be serving as the town’s new traffic enforcement/school resource officer. He will be regularly using the motorcycle for traffic enforcement duties.
“In the summertime, traffic enforcement will be my full-time responsibility and I will be spending a lot of time on the motorcycle,” said Curran. “In September, I will be divided between traffic enforcement and the schools.”
Curran was certified to ride the police department’s motorcycle after attending a motorcycle training program at Seacoast Harley-Davidson in North Hampton, N.H.
“It’s very intense,” Breen said of the program.
Breen said Curran will begin his full-time traffic enforcement duties in a week when another officer will be transferring to the police department.
“We are starting to get our staffing levels to the point where we will be able to maintain traffic enforcement eight hours a day, which is what people said they wanted at the last selectmen’s meeting,” said Breen. “People were very vocal in requesting the selectmen they wanted a full-time traffic enforcement officer and the selectmen agreed.”
Breen said having a full-time traffic enforcement officer will give the police department a lot of “flexibility” with monitoring high traffic areas in town, particularly in the Walnut Street area.
“The people have made it clear they want traffic enforcement there and we are going to accommodate them,” said Breen.
In addition to traffic enforcement, Curran said he plans on using the motorcycle frequently at the town’s schools in order to build relationships with local students.
Kelly said the motorcycle is a great way to reach out to local students.
“The moment you pull up in a motorcycle, kids pay attention,” said Kelly. “If it helps attract the attention of kids, they will then listen to the officer. It just makes a lot of sense.”
Breen agreed.
“The kids love it,” said Breen.
