PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) will buy about 35 BMW RT 1150P motorcycle models by next summer, while the Scottsdale Police Department is expected to add 18 bikes. Phoenix police will consider similar upgrades to its motorcycle fleet, according to the Arizona Republic. The agencies are swapping out Kawasakis after the company stopped building police motorcycles. The DPS, Scottsdale and Phoenix have long used a Kawasaki model first released in 1978. For Valley police, it's a matter of catching up on technology. The BMW model has anti-lock brakes and a liquid cooling system, two features DPS patrol officers struggled without on their air-cooled Kawasakis — especially in the Arizona summer. Lt. Wayne Lorch, of Phoenix Police Department's Traffic Bureau South, said the department bought their last Kawasakis in March 2004. Scottsdale and the DPS recently sent motorcycle patrol supervisors to train in an intensive BMW program with the California Highway Patrol in Sacramento. Sgt. Jim Butera, a motor supervisor for Scottsdale police, said the California Highway Patrol uses its BMWs for up to 100,000 miles. On the other hand, Scottsdale police officers used their old Kawasakis for up to 60,000 miles.
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