Motorcycle Patrol 

The Beaufort Police Department operates two 1999 Kawasaki Police Motorcycles. Motorcycles are used for traffic enforcement, escorts, parades, and other special events as needed. All officers that operate the motorcycles attend two-week hands on training course involving law enforcement techniques. To remain certified they also must attend a yearly training update that also involves classroom and field work. The Police Department has five operators.  The Kawasakis are equipped with blue strobe lights front and rear, siren, police radio and moving radar. A separate battery system runs the additional equipment and recharges the system when the motorcycles are not in use. The Police Department purchased its first motorcycle (Harley Davidson) in 1958. A new Harley Davidson was purchased in 1971. This motorcycle can still be seen today  in the funeral scene of the motion picture "The Big Chill" which was filmed in Beaufort in 1983. A new 1987 Harley Davidson was purchased and used by the Beaufort Police Department until 1999. The Police Department received a highway safety grant in 1981 and purchased a new Kawasaki Police 1000. This motorcycle too can be seen in the "The Big Chill". Both of these motorcycles were replaced in February 1999 with Kawasaki Police 1000s.