DeSoto County Deputies Win Awards at Peach State Motor Rodeo
Four motorcycle deputies from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office brought home awards from the 3rd annual Peach State Motor Rodeo. The DeSoto County motor rodeo team finished well against motor officers from across the Southeast. The sheriff’s office shared the results on Sept. 23, congratulating the members of its Motor Unit for representing the agency “extremely well.”
About the Peach State Motor Rodeo
The competition took place Sept. 9-12 in Buford, Georgia. The Gwinnett County Police organized it in partnership with the Gwinnett County Police Foundation. Riders came from as far away as South Carolina and Florida to compete, network, and spend time with other motor officers and deputies.
Motor rodeos test the precision riding skills that motorcycle officers use every day in traffic enforcement, escorts, and parades. Events at the Peach State rodeo included:
- A precision and speed run
- A challenge ride
- “Last Man Standing,” a slow-speed elimination event
- Several other skills courses
DeSoto County Motor Rodeo Results
According to the sheriff’s office, DeSoto County’s deputies placed in the following categories:
- Sgt. Jonathan Hardin: 8th place overall and 3rd in the Expert Windshield Division
- Deputy Dominic Bianchi: Best Save Award
- Deputy Blake Hudson: 7th place overall and 1st in the Intermediate Fairing Division
- Deputy Michael Harmon: 2nd place in the Novice Windshield Division
The sheriff’s office thanked the deputies for their “willingness to continue perfecting their craft to better serve us.”
Why Motor Deputies Train for Competition
Police motorcycles are heavy machines, and much of a motor officer’s most demanding work happens at very low speeds: tight turns in parking lots, weaving through stopped traffic, and holding formation during funeral processions and parade escorts. Rodeo courses are built around those same maneuvers. Cones mark out tight patterns that riders must clear without putting a foot down or knocking anything over.
Competitions such as the Peach State Motor Rodeo give officers a structured way to sharpen those skills, compare techniques with riders from other agencies, and bring lessons back to their own departments. Awards such as the Best Save Award recognize a rider who recovers from a near-fall on the course, a skill that carries over directly to the street.
Motor Units Closer to Home
DeSoto County residents often see the sheriff’s motor deputies at community events. Sheriff’s office motorcycles are part of this Saturday’s Touch-A-Truck display at the Hernando Water Tower Festival. Other DeSoto County agencies compete on the motor rodeo circuit too. Earlier this year, Olive Branch police officers placed at the Scotty Triplett Motor Rodeo.
The sheriff’s office is also recruiting new deputies. It recently released a recruitment video and launched servedesoto.com for anyone interested in a law enforcement career in DeSoto County.
Related: Olive Branch officers place at Fourth Annual Scotty Triplett Motor Rodeo
Source: DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office (Facebook)
