Houma Police one step closer to new bikes

The Houma Police Department (HPD) should see its new Harley Davidson motorcycles by December, after the Terrebonne Parish Budget and Finance committee awarded the bid for the purchase of the bikes to Mike Bruno’s Bayou Country Harley Davidson.

Mike Bruno’s Bayou Country Harley Davidson, located on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houma, was the lowest out of three bidders for the purchase of two 2011 Harley Davidson FLHP Road King police motorcycles, at the price of $16,454 per bike – totaling $32,908.

“The estimated delivery of the bikes is 60 to 90 calendar days after we send the money to the vendor,” Terrebonne Purchasing Manager Angela Guidry said.

Police Chief Todd Duplantis had previously said these new motorcycles would better help HPD in patrolling Houma, and since HPD would be downsizing from four motorcycles to two new ones, it would be more economical as well. Having only two bikes would save the department in both fuel costs and insurance costs.

“On average, HPD handles about 2,000 car crashes a year,” Duplantis said at a previous council meeting, adding traffic officers can maneuver through car crashes better than in a car.

According to Mike Bruno’s sales manager Jeff Northcutt, Harley Davidson has been making police motorcycles longer than any other motorcycle company, and the company is happy to assist HPD.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever sold one at a margin as low,” Northcutt said. “We looked at a number and decided that’s what we felt would be a fair offer for the parish.”

Currently, two out of the four 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycles HPD owns are deemed surplus, and are not in use. Guidry said the purchasing department will open bids on the two surplus bikes on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Those interested can contact Terrebonne Parish Purchasing Department at (985) 873-6754 for a bid packet until Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.

The lowest bid starts at $3,500 for the 2002 Harley Davidson Road King FL8P1 motorcycles, according to Guidry.

Houma Police Traffic Officer Patrick Theriot rides one of the department’s older 2002 model Harley Davidson motorcycle. Police Chief Todd Duplantis say new bikes will improve traffic patrols across the city. JENNA FARMER