Former Durango Police Department Officer Ron Wysocki was one of the more-recognizable and better-known figures on the force before his retirement two years ago – if not for the number of traffic stops he performed, then for the fact that he did many of them on a motorcycle.
Before his retirement in 2022, Wysocki spent several years as Durango’s only motorcycle officer. He has remained present on the motorcycle scene in Durango since his retirement. But he has missed one thing in particular: the 2011 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide he rode while patrolling the streets of Durango.
As luck would have it, Wysocki was reunited with his beloved motorcycle in March. The former officer was able to buy the motorcycle for $7,250 at a police department auction. The bike is valued at about $8,000, according to J.D. Power.
The bike has sentimental value, too.
“(There is) a nostalgia of having ridden that bike for work all the time, and now being able to get on it and just motor around,” said Wysocki, who worked for the police department for 28 years. “It’s a lot less stressful.”
With the exception of a 2014 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited, Wysocki favors police bikes.
“Since I’ve ridden Harleys, I’ve always actually gotten police-style motorcycles,” he said.
Since his departure from the police department, Wysocki has remained active with the community.
Trevor Bird, owner of Durango Harley-Davidson, said when he arrived in town seven years ago, he remembers seeing a motorcycle police officer and thinking it was cool the Durango Police Department sponsored such a program. Since then, he has come to know Wysocki on a more personal level.
”I’ve had a chance to ride with him several times – on different benefit rides,” Bird said. “... He’s even come out for some of our Thursday night rides that we do with our customers and our team. I always loved riding with Ron.”
Wysocki’s longtime motorcycle partner at the police department, Rob Haukeness, who has also retired, also had the chance to buy his old motorcycle but decided not to because he had recently purchased a different motorcycle.
“I do have regrets for not buying the bike,” Haukeness said. “When you depend on a piece of machinery like that and you have an opportunity to make it yours, there’s a lot of sentimental value for us for our particular motorcycles.”
Haukeness and Wysocki still ride together as often as possible.
The Durango Police Department typically replaces its vehicles every three to five years, but motorcycles are replaced less often, every 15 to 20 years. Decommissioned vehicles are sold at auction, sans police decals and equipment like lights and sirens.
After Wysocki’s retirement, the Durango Police Department discontinued the motorcycle program, a decision that hinged largely on personnel. The program could return in the future if there is enough support among officers, said Durango Police Chief Brice Current.
“A lot of that has to do with the traffic unit (and) whether they’re wanting to ride the motorcycles,” he said.
Wysocki’s retirement plans include the Iron Butt Saddle Sore Ride, in which participants ride 1,000 miles in 24 hours or less. He’s completed the ride once before, going from Durango to Dinosaur to Denver and back. But this time, he plans to go the other direction, riding east first.
Safety is a common concern for motorcyclists. In 2022, the Colorado Department of Transportation recorded 149 motorcycle fatalities, 20% of all traffic deaths in the state.
Wysocki still has words of safety for the public.
“You just keep your wits about you, expect the unexpected and watch out for other motorists because there’s so many people that are on cellphones and distracted driving out there,” he said.
