Brunswick police looking to address speeding motorcycles

BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick Division of Police is looking for ways to safely handle speeding motorcycles and sports bikes driving within city limits. Police Chief Robert Safran spoke about the issue to Brunswick City Council on Monday. He said the police department has terminated about 80 percent of pursuits involving sport bikes in the past two years because of high speeds. "This one's on Center Road at 100 miles an hour," he said. "We had a pursuit last week that we terminated at 70 miles an hour on the center turn lane up Pearl Road." It is dangerous to chase a motorcycle, Safran said. When officers initiate a pursuit, they have to consider the safety of the motoring public compared to why they are trying to stop the bike. "I sat down with my traffic sergeant at the beginning of the year," he said. "The weather's warming up. We're going to start having bike pursuits again, and we need to do something about this." This year, Brunswick police will be receiving assistance from the State Highway Patrol and the Medina County Sheriff's Office to address speeding motorcycles, Safran said. For instance, drones can be used to potentially get a closer picture of the driver and their license plate. "Motorcycles are tough, and drones are a good tool to help try and identify a rider, if we have a description and if we can at least get a better picture of them," he said. "Some of that will be before a pursuit begins where the drone might be able to take photographs in the area." Ward 4 Councilman Keith Kuczma brought up potentially starting a police motorcycle unit. Safran said the Brunswick Division of Police used to have a motorcycle unit, but implementing one now would be expensive and difficult to staff. "When I plan out a five-year budget, there's some big ticket items coming up that would be impacted if we were to try and get a motorcycle unit," he said. "One is our weapons modification program and modernization where next year we're looking to purchase rifles. Probably, in 2027-28, we're going to have to replace our body-worn cameras." There are also limitations to police operating motorcycles like an inability to transport prisoners, Safran said. "Motorcycles can't chase other motorcycles," he said. "It's a misconception. It's not safe. Our policy is pretty clear that if you have a motorcycle in a pursuit, you're to peel off and get a vehicle involved." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.