CHESTER - Randolph County Sheriff Fred Frederking began his description of the new Harley-Davidson motorcycles owned by his department by saying, "It sounds too good to be true."

It's easy to understand his disclaimer when he explains that the two brand-new Electra Glide Harleys that arrived about two weeks ago were given to the department free of charge.

It isn't a bribe and it isn't 100 percent altruistic, Frederking explained. Rather, the free Hogs are part of a Harley-Davidson program that creates a win-win situation for police departments and the legendary motorcycle manufacturer.

"They give a police department, any police department, a Harley-Davidson for one year for free," he said. "Unlimited mileage. And then, at the end of the year, you trade it in for another, brand-new Harley-Davidson."

Frederking said he read all the fine print, then called the company and said "I'll take two of those."

"We have to provide any extra equipment," he said. "The police radio, though, was really the only thing along with the license and registration."

The motorcycles already come equipped with police lights and siren, he said.

Frederking said the motorcycles, which will be used weather-permitting, get about 40 miles to a gallon of gas - which is looking like a good savings to the department with gas at more than $2 a gallon.

Besides the gas mileage, Frederking is looking to get some serious public relations mileage out of the motorcycles as well. Though the department has had

them only two weeks and hasn't even put them on regular patrol yet, the motorcycles patrol was already requested for a funeral procession, Frederking said.

"I've had very good response from people so far," he said. "And they are very maneuverable - they'll be used for routine traffic patrol as well as special details."

Frederking said there wasn't a scuffle or a drawing of straws to determine the new motorcycle deputies.

"I only have three deputies who have motorcycle classification on their driver's licenses," he said. "Two of them were really interested, and the third said he'd take one out if the other two were off work."

Accordingly, Deputies Rod Queen and Shannon Wolff have added motorcycle patrol to their list of duties with the department.

Queen brought his motorcycle to the Sparta Police Department and revved up some instant interest with the police officers there.

Queen has been with the department for eight months, but he has been a Harley rider for several years.

"I jumped at the chance," he said. "It didn't take me long (to express interest)."

Queen said the motorcycles have some limitations - transporting arrestees, for instance - but he said he thinks they will "work out well for the department."

The deal works out well for Harley-Davidson, too, Frederking said.

"Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903," Frederking said. "By 1908, they had police-models. That's how long the partnership between Harley-Davidson and the police goes back."

Frederking said Harley-Davidson is able to turn the used police motorcycles over in almost no time at all and command a good price for them. He said an authentic police Harley-Davidson - authentic meaning one actually used by a police department - fetches a pretty good price among specialist collectors.

Frederking said the fever has spread as word has gotten out about the great deal for law enforcement agencies - with a little help from the Randolph County Sheriff.

"They asked me if any other departments would be interested in this," he said.

Several agencies, including the Chester, Steeleville, Sparta and Pinckneyville police departments have expressed interest to Frederking at least about getting more information, he said.

Chief Paul Day in Pinckneyville said he has three officers who are licensed to drive motorcycles. He said he is considering asking for two motorcycles, but said even one would be a boon to the department. He said the city council would have to agree that the addition of a motorcycle patrol would help the department, but because the motorcycles come free, Day said it seems like a reasonable request to make.

"It would help us out with some of our festivities in town - they would be easier to patrol with a motorcycle," he said.

Day added that he knows at least several other departments are considering adding the motorcycles to their fleets. He said once a few departments in Southern Illinois have the Harley's, he said he'd like to see a police motorcycle patrol group or organization form for parades and special details.

"But we'll wait on that until we've got it here," he said.

Chief Tom Ashley of the Sparta Police Department is waiting for his department's motorcycle to show up, too. He expects it sometime in May. He said it wasn't a hard sell to the city council at all. For one thing, Mayor Randy Bertetto rides a motorcycle, Ashley said.

Ashley said the motorcycle will play an important role in the community policing aspect of his department because of the visibility and the use of the motorcycles in special details like funerals. He also expects the motorcycle to be an asset in patrolling the shooting complex coming to Sparta.

Chief Jeff Glenn in Steeleville said he will be one of the two officers riding the Harley his department will receive in May. He's been a motorcycle rider for 30 years, he said, and, as a "patrolling chief" he looks forward to adding an activity he loves to his career.

Several Southern Illinois law enforcement agencies have gotten their motorcycles from Dale's Harley-Davidson in Mount Vernon.

Sales Manager Matt Waterkotte said this is the first year the Mount Vernon dealer has participated in the program.

"It gives me more bikes at the end of the year to sell," he said, noting that the collector element is a big factor in the desirability of the motorcycles. He said the program has been available through Harley-Davidson for some time, but this is the first year police departments in the area have got on board.

"I've had 15 or 20 calls (this year)," Waterkotte said, adding that Southern Illinois University Carbondale was one of the callers. "The word is really getting out there."

He said this year the dealer is interested in seeing how well the program will work with the departments.

In the meantime, Frederking said he was thinking about sending at least one of the motorcycles to the annual Blessing of the Bikes at Bald Knob Cross in April. But first up, he said, is deciding on the final details about how department insignia will appear on the motorcycle.

"We'll have the sheriff star on the gas tank, and something on the front here," he said.

andrea.hahn@;thesouthern.com

618-529-5454 x15076