Fairfax County Police Department News

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Take the family to the Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly 20151, this Friday and Saturday and see officers from the Fairfax County Police Motor Squad participate with motorcycle officers from around the country and Canada as they display their skills and abilities in the oldest, longest running police motorcycle safety competition in the nation. The event is free and open to the public. The “Challenge Ride” begins at noon on Friday. The competition begins at 7:30 on Saturday and continues throughout the day. There will be vendors on site. Funds raised will be donated to Make a Wish Foundation. For more Information go to www.mapmrc.com.

The Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Rodeo was the “brain child” of Corporal A.D. Johnson, a motorcycle police officer with the Prince George’s County Police Department, Prince George’s County Maryland. In 1979, the first rodeo was held, to enhance the skills and working relationships of the motorcycle officers in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Tragically in 1982, Corporal Johnson was killed in an on-duty motorcycle accident. In the spirit of Corporal A.D. Johnson, the organization continues today, heading into its 34th year of operation.

The rodeos have continued throughout the years, through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers—mostly police officers, but also many civilians, whose help has made it possible. As the rodeo grew, it became apparent that the committee would need to grow as well, to handle the increasing demands placed upon it. Many new agencies became interested in participating, and the committee was asked to assist with establishing other training events in the United States and Canada. The committee was incorporated in 1988 as The Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Riding Committee, Inc. with its emphasis on increasing the “safe” operation of police motorcycles and enhancing the skills of individual officers.

The Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Riding Committee, Inc. (MAPMRC, Inc.) continues to be dedicated to increasing “inter-departmental” communications between police agencies everywhere. It is the desire of the MAPMRC, Inc. to provide better service to the public, not only through encouraging safer motorcycle operation, but also with providing an avenue through which officers would have personal contacts with other officers in various areas, providing an invaluable investigative resource.

In 1998, the committee voted to take on COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.) as our main charity. In 2013 we adopted the Make A Wish charity.  Through our annual police motorcycle training event held each year and with the raffle of a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, and with the support of other donations, the MAPMRC has been able to donate over $255,000 to COPS and $5,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation. It would not be possible without your support!

In the future, the Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Riding Committee, Inc. hopes to continue to grow and to be of service to motorcycle police officers at large, promoting safe riding skills and increased cooperation between agencies.

More Information:

• Follow us on Twitter @fairfaxpolice
• Like us on Facebook
• To request this information in an alternate format, call the Public Information Office at 703-246-2253,  TTY 711