Pretty much during any day at Kranson’s clothing store you can find some type of law enforcement person picking up new clothes, shoes or accessories. Each department has its own unique look that is often detailed by patches so that it is obvious what department you represent. The sheriff’s office actually has separate uniforms for the full-time officers and those who ride in the motorcycle division, which is an all-volunteer division.
Unlike many of the other uniforms, there is one final piece that finishes off the uniform of the motorcycle division officers — the helmet. While the rest of the uniform is quite professional looking, the helmet is actually a safety feature as well. It can also be readily seen and identified as sheriff’s department personnel for traffic control.
One thing you should know is that because the motorcycle division is all-volunteer, the officers all purchase their own equipment and uniforms. While Kranson’s does a great job of keeping the uniform clothes all matching and, well, uniform, the store doesn’t sell motorcycle helmets. Because of that there has been some variety of helmet colors and shapes. For instance, when I first joined the motorcycle division, I was using a white full-face helmet which was completely different from the rest of the division. Even those that had similar half helmets had several shades of gold and even a red one.
Sitting around at the end-of-summer party, Captain Richard Moskaluk thought it would be a great idea if we could all have matching helmets that had a uniform color and perhaps logo. “I think that when they are all done, it will be really impressive” to have matching helmets, he said.
After several attempts to get someone to paint them, they ended up with the newest member of the motorcycle division. Yep, the old man. Doug actually joined the motorcycle division this past January and decided that since we couldn’t find anyone else to do the job he would step in and take over the project. So Moskaluk and wife Irene rounded up as many of the helmets as they could and gave them all to Doug to begin the work. And the helmets all ended up in my dining room to be painted. Doug is a painting contractor, so he had all the tools necessary and the requisite skill, not to mention patience, to get the job done. He said, “The hardest part was the smell of the lacquer and paint used to do the job.”
For the past week my house was turned into a painting production studio with Monday’s snow day giving one last day to put on the finishing touches — the tiny Deputy Sheriff badges that sit on the crown of the helmet. Moskaluk said that he really likes the idea of the badges on the helmets as “they are great, they show up really well.”
“The helmets that weren’t black had to first be painted black, then each helmet had to be masked off and painted gold,” Doug said. “The last step in painting was to clear coat each helmet. After that each helmet had to be pinstriped with a small strip of reflective tape. Lastly the badges had to be molded to the contour of the helmet and applied with epoxy to adhere them to the helmet.”
Let me tell you, the smell in the house was awful. But it was all done for a good cause, and hopefully I will have my dining room table back soon as well as my new and newly painted helmet with a badge on it.
“I think they are beautiful, when everyone else sees them, they will want one too,” Moskaluk said.
Luckily, Doug “eBay” Moore bought a few extras that he’s completed the work on, and they will be available for anyone that wants a new helmet.
If everyone can get their bikes out of storage for March 13, you will be able to see their debut at the Wilkes-Barre Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. The helmets will also be in attendance at the 15th Annual Wyoming Valley Motorcycle and Sports Show. This event will be held on March 20 at the 109th Armory on Market Street in Kingston. That runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and benefits the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association.
The sheriff’s office will have a table where children can be fingerprinted and given IDs. You can also talk to Sheriff John Gilligan, Sheriff Chief Carl Zawatski or Captain Richard Moskaluk about joining the motorcycle division. You just have to be sure to have a clean record, as they do a rigorous background check before admitting you to the unit.
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