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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 26, 2010
PLANT CITY - There's a new member of the city police department's motorcycle division.
And for the first time since it was founded more than 70 years ago, the officer is a woman.
DeeDee Gregory, a married mother of two who became an officer at age 40, was recently named the city's first female motorcycle officer.
She's a good fit for the role — she has been riding bikes for fun for a couple of decades. Gregory said the duties have been a bit of a challenge, but she's up to the task.
Gregory put in her first 80 hours of training learning to handle her 850-pound Harley-Davidson Road King at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office basic police riding school at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
"We were taught basic handling skills at high and low speeds using an obstacle course that I would never have believed you could ride a bike through until I saw it done," Gregory said. "I learned more about riding a motorcycle in two weeks than I had in 20 years on the road."
She is one of four members of the motorcycle division, which the department calls its motor unit.
"DeeDee isn't new to motorcycles. She has been riding recreationally for 20 years. After settling in as a new officer, we had an opening in the motor unit earlier this year; she jumped at it," Police Chief Bill McDaniel said.
Gregory was hired by the department in 2007 when she was 40, fulfilling a longtime ambition of becoming a law enforcement officer. She is one of seven women on the force, including a captain, a criminal investigation sergeant, a detective and three patrol officers.
"When I started with the department as a patrol officer, I had just turned 40, but it was a dream that I had since I was a little girl," Gregory said. "For years, my husband (James) and I worked together building Jim Walters Homes. When our two daughters reached high school, I decided to sign up for the Polk County night-time police academy. It took me six months to complete all the courses."
After just two years on the job, she was named Plant City officer of the year in 2009.
She hankered to ride a bike on the job.
"During my first year in the department, an opening came up in the motor unit," Gregory said. "But I was still learning the ropes on patrol, and I waited for another opportunity to join the motor unit."
Plant City's motorcycle officers normally ride in pairs, working traffic control, funeral processions and traffic.
"Traffic accident investigation is a large part of the motor unit's responsibility," said Tommy Morris, a senior motor officer who often rides partner with Gregory. "The first year an officer rides in the motor unit includes 240 hours of specific training."
Gregory is looking to complete three courses in the coming year, including reconstructive traffic homicide investigation. All of the courses are mandatory for a motor unit officer.
"The classes are challenging," Morris said. "The skills needed in riding are obvious. But accident investigation skills are required for state certification."
McDaniel is pleased with Gregory's track record as an officer.
"DeeDee has done everything expected of a new officer and then some," McDaniel said. "She was chosen as officer of the year in 2009. She is well respected by her peers and is doing a great job."
Besides accident investigations, motorcycle officers often pick up duties such as apprehending suspects who are on foot. Because of their smaller size, motorcycle units can go where police cars are unable to travel.
Traffic Sgt. Jim Shultz has been impressed with Gregory's work, including her motor-unit-leading 106 citations during the recent Click-it or Ticket seat belt campaign.
"Gregory is hard working and has a positive attitude about her job," Shultz said. "She is eager to learn and has done a fine job. She has more training to do. But she is not afraid to learn new things. She has definitely enjoyed being part of the motor unit."
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