LIFE March 1949, Los Angeles Coliseum. Photographer: Loomis Dean
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cXxWvT79IEMOJqMJM07Wl_NyftipzPkfs2u-ZyX-epk8F35Z3KX7ktMaXZMNZ9CDiuKE3yEWFuEQQjDXySpiKjJLgWMKlNFub3_a5rKsd4ODtfP29ihdFiBitgxI6jcd0sr9MGJPrwhE/s400/LAPD+Harleys+May+1949.jpg)
Note the bottom left, you can see another photographer's hand holding his camera. Also notice the bottom right (LIFE logo),where the photo has been torn. Life Caption: "Los Angeles has world's biggest motorcycle police force, here lining up for review". Looks like 9 rows of 24. That would be 216 if thats all of them?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYUBFPLXZo4Lifn52tayTXQ5b9PiKxiT_taFh70m9GIAefiyWrlLgq_F1NeM6MvUbIsIkWBm7b09g6ukUN3Bj3xldDDqFJtDnGEs2Pr_fJDL8QP0DGpFRjrXjRvwp_Hb9IQaH07s7vlLV/s400/Cops+Circling.jpg)
Maybe one of you can try counting them. I wonder how many of them have survived or how many were later bobbed and chopped? While they were getting their picture taken, it would have been a good day to be out on the streets raising hell.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG6y-E6am4XSwTrrdjT7QrenPwdJ1nn-xgRmVL-mDVHXojxgzP3ydjIzWvSHRQjCVGNwTxNMLom0pMT9OYCHAQ30meE5ySsHWvVCalCXSDTjOzm41jWWPopYQC12C1erH9-X2R8n85XQE/s400/Cops+at+attention.jpg)
"Los Angeles motorcycle police force during full scale inspection of cycle corps".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QUCbd8NAg89RPUZwShGGG5IgYoc38S97LLr7TVtObxVL0NnaaZ8pN61Xe7AKlgS7TvtAKIXt7N1CtOKYTiNZ-lcsMXYWuaRh1FaiZ_u8bG0FybQz_et7GRSZZB55gUjnmRN_D6yqWGxV/s400/Cops+Leaving+Stadium.jpg)
1949. That would mean a mixture of Knuckleheads (possibly some Flatheads), 48 Pans with springers, and '49 Hydra-Glides. Where's the Meter Maids and Servi-Cars?
Now
Exact date and location not known.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKwq-ZNn-3F3_H7rb_r3U1GzjDxK8O2WkweUf6e7shDetjeu-RSPi5D22fFoZk3XMf6oPKkpFNPZZ_zZlVB27VU8Ep_O4rePpVMpZ2K2cgVjkJd9i2z0eHKdbWK_Cu9Hefxse108jn6fG/s400/Police-Line-up3.jpg)
A modern day line up of Twinkies just doesn't get me as excited. Yeah, I know, I stacked the deck in favor of the oldies.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06dz8tXr1IM0vmTrD1nEapdgsV9xiQRIkr2K8ux93RwLMMDkCZxJFKJBpPfq-6rsiCEysNTdOLycV0HLNwZG5s_ngwNIZoBo1geCGRwlQPcDhZ8eGsaBXmez43iwlxt1e-0Uhhjt_tYrN/s400/Police-Line-up.jpg)
It may be a regional bias but, a proper Police Special is painted Black and White, or as H-D liked, Silver.