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Sgt. Donnie Walker of the Prattville Police Department likes his new office. It has two wheels, 97 horsepower, flashing lights and rumbling exhausts.

The department has taken delivery of 10 Victory motorcycles for its traffic division. The city started using motorcycles in 1995 and has always used Harley-Davidsons, the iconic police bike.

“The Victorys are cooler,” Walker said, quickly explaining he meant running temperature of the engine, as well as the wow factor. “It rides smoother. I’ve ridden Harleys for 10 years, and in my opinion the Victory is a better riding motorcycle, and it’s practical for what we are doing.”

The cool factor, temperature wise, makes a big difference in the summer months when patrols are conducted on blazing asphalt and the officers are sitting atop 106 cubic inches of engine. The drawback is you can’t warm your hands in the cooler months by placing them close to the engine, said Brian Gentry, another motorcycle  officer. The solution? Thicker gloves.

Police Chief Mark Thompson put it to the troops as to what motorcycles they wanted. Victory came out on top. Comfort is important. Riding a motor and getting paid to do it is pretty cool. But you have to realize, the bikes are the officers’ office for eight to 10 to 12 hours a day. The new rides didn’t come cheap. The 10 motors cost about $257,000.

The motorcycle division is primarily responsible for traffic enforcement and working wrecks, along with patrol duties. But public relations is a huge benefit, said Capt. David Fowler.

“Kids love the bikes and will come up and want to talk to the officer,” he said. “People who would never approach an officer in a patrol unit will just automatically come up to a motorcycle. I can’t tell you how many pictures parents have taken, when we sit their kids on the bikes. It’s a great tool for starting that conversation, that relationship, between the officers and the public.”

As if on cue Carter Welles walked out of a downtown business Tuesday morning as Gentry and Walker were riding on West Main Street.

“I’ve seen the new motorcycles around town, but this is my first chance to get an up close look at them,” he said, coming away impressed. Welles rides, and owns, a Harley. “When I heard them make the turn at the foot of Main Street I heard the rumble, and knew it wasn’t a Harley. They look good with the markings and the lights.”