
Four members of the Burbank Police Department’s Motorcycle Unit claimed third place in the annual Orange County Traffic Officer’s Association’s “Top Gun” Motor Rodeo. Officers Dan Turpin, Chris Hensley, Randy Lloyd and Ryan Murphy traveled to the annual OCTOA event, held on Wednesday, September 18. Officer Murphy reached the semi-finals in the individual competition.
The “Top Gun” Motor Rodeo draws approximately 250 police officers from throughout California for individual and team events. Competitors are challenged with fast and slow timed cone patterns and an elimination round competition, the “Top Gun” finale. For the team competition, multiple bikes enter and exit the pattern individually and then all of the points from each team member are totaled. Points are taken away for knocking down cones or riding out of the pattern.
Burbank officers competed in six different individual events and one team event in the BMW class. Thirteen officers comprise Burbank’s Motorcycle Unit and the officers operate custom BMW motorcycles weighing 650 lbs. The bikes cost about $23,000 after all of the police package items are added.
“We go every year to challenge our personal abilities in operating the motorcycle,” commented Officer Murphy. “This event allows us to compare our riding skills against other officers attending the event from throughout Southern California.”