time outside, nature has a way of connecting deeply to
the best parts of our humanity. Hearts open, eyes soften
and we can breathe fully. I’m not sure who had more fun
the kids or the adults.
Officer Laura spends countless hours training and
riding with the kids. I enjoyed watching her and Sgt.
Romeral gracefully maneuver the very torquey Zero mo-
torcycles alongside the kids. Both are incredible riders
and have a gift for teaching and caring for the safety of
the group.
Meanwhile I rode in an ATV with Captain Andrew
Neiman, camera in hand following the group having our
own good time in the dirt … nothing like an exhilarating
ride with a Captain. Ms. Kim, the parole officer is very
proud of the fact that none of her kids are or have been
in trouble with the law.
“They must work hard to keep their grades up and
sidestep the dangers we have all faced when we are
prone to peer pressure to try drugs,” she explained. Her
office is smack dab in the middle of the housing project
so she knows the ropes, the faces, the relatives and of
course the gang members which have given her a chal-
lenge in the past, however they have earned her respect
as she clearly works steadfast to protect her group of
kids.
“This program has been so successful in the preven-
tion of problematic behavior that parents have been
knocking on my door to see how to get their kids in-
volved,” she smiles as she watches them ride.
My curiosity of motorcycle officers surely took an un-
likely turn in the best possible manner and left me with
a deeper insight and respect for the LAPD. I thought at
first I would do a ride along in dangerous neighborhoods
at night, see hardened criminals get arrested, and dodge
bullets, you know, like the movies. Instead I chose to
amplify the good in this beautiful corner of life. I hope
these kids stay in their happy place for a long time.
TRAVERSE 64