By

Alex Lambert


September 24, 2024

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Pembroke – Fifteen Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) highway patrol officers donned Golden Helmets and took to the streets of downtown Pembroke Saturday, treating locals to a demonstration of their skill and precision.

The famed Golden Helmets Precision Motorcycle Team took over Pembroke Street West putting on a display of several technically challenging manoeuvers showcasing expert teamwork and their rider’s ability to tame the 800-pound machines.

The team made a few passes by the crowd in their Harley Davidson Police Specials, fit with roaring 1690 cc engines, before making the traditional V-formation, lining up ahead of the uniformed officers and dismounting for the national anthem.

The Golden Helmet’s commentator, who emceed the event, then shared a brief history of the OPP’s use of motorcycles before the presentation of colours and a formal salute from Ridemaster Liz Newton to Pembroke native Deputy Commissioner Chris Harkins.

He told the audience the OPP started using motorcycle personnel just under a century ago in the 1930s. In 1963, the commissioner at the time, Eric Silk, mandated that training be given to all OPP motorcycle officers. It wasn’t long before bikes became the main method of highway patrol.

Following the formalities they fired up their engines, flipped back their kickstands and mounted their bikes in unison. The officers made their way to one end of the street before each making drive-by introductions to the crowd. Following the introduction, they started their routine of specially trained precision manoeuvers directed by Ms. Newton.

The demonstration started with officers riding head-on toward each other before quickly turning a single-file circle. They displayed several precision movements like rows of officers weaving in between one another, and fan favourites like ‘splitting the diamond,’ where one officer speeds down the centre of two lines of riders, sending them shooting apart.

Ms. Newton said her favourite part of the performance wasn’t any one particular move, but seeing her team’s hard work come to fruition.

“This is our last show of the season, and we had a great crowd today and great weather. (We’re) very pleased with how the season has unfolded,” she said. “We have not been here as a team in quite some time, so we’re very happy to be here today.

“All in all, it was a wonderful day.”

The Golden Helmets boasts a 20-officer team of highly trained riders including a ridemaster, commentator and motorcycle technician. The riders have such fluid uniform movements thanks to each rider’s helmet being equipped with a transceiver which lets the team communicate.

Visitors had the chance to meet and greet with the team after the performance.