Well, beautiful day and I decide to cut out of the office and go for a ride (I got in at 9 so I had had enough and left at 11:30). So, went home took out the Litespeed and off I went. Got about 35 miles in and did some hill work over and over again on a steep longish hill that is south of home (10 times). So, I decide to head into Byron Il for refeuling and a drink. I am about 3 miles from the small hick town - on a farm road with no cars in sight (not uncommon for the area as there are just big ranches there). All of a sudden a car comes up fast and gets behind me and LAYS on his horn…for about 20 seconds. Now I am to the far right, and was…this guy just wants to be an ass and honk at me…so I flip him off…he can run me over if he really wants to, I am game. After I flip him off he lays on the horn again…I am not so sure what he wants me to do as I can not move any more to the right…so I go about 3 feet to the left, sit up and flip him off with both hands…that is when he pulls up allong side of me and starts to yell…it is a Dodge Intrepid with some 35-40 year old jerk yelling…and that is when I notice…he is a COP! Yes sir ree…he pulls in front, cuts to the right blocking the road and hits the brakes! NICE!!! I went right up to his window and asked him in these words “What in the hell is your problem?” “Jesus Christ, you are a COP you are not supposed to be the one harassing cyclists on farm roads”…he said “you need to get off the roads, they are for cars”…my reply “fuck you, I can ride on any road I want in the state with exception of interstate highways and toll roads…I know the rules of the road, got a copy with you?”…so his SUPER smart reply…“you let go of the steering wheel, I can ticket you for not controlling your vehicle”…LOL LOL LOL…Even in a more smart ass tone my reply was “Steering wheel, this is a BICYCLE, not a motor vehicle, and if I want to ride a unicycle on this road I will”…“again…you are a COP…what kind of behavior is this for a cop…what is your name anyways?”
And that is when I see it…his badge has “Cheif” on it!!! I think that this guy was just shocked that I did not play to his authority and back down…I knew I did nothing wrong…so I ask again…“you are CHEIF and you behave like this?” “I though you were the guy I called when I had issues with cars”…So he was kinda shocked…and tells me “flip me off again I will kick your ass”…and takes off down the road. WTF is that about? (Of course I flipped him off as he pulled away)…
Actually, No - he is the Cheif of they Byron IL police dept.
Todd R. Murry
Chief of Police
Came to Byron in 1986 as a police officer. Went to the Ogle County Sheriffs Department in 1990 and served there until being appointed Chief of Police in September 2000. Graduate of the 198th session of the FBI National Academy.
Apparently you need to carry a tape recorder with you on your rides (or a video camera – I’m sure the local news channel would love that one). Now, even if you do choose to persue it, it’s your word against his.
Threatening bodily harm? I think that’s considered unlawful in most states…
Before we continue, were you by chance wearing those cycling tights that resulted in a certain part of your anatomy getting freeze dried early last year? No…
Okay, this may only serve to make things worse, but if he is the chief of police (phonetically ‘powelise’ in this case) who was hired/appointed by the Mayor/City Manager/City Council (which ever applies) and not an elected officila such as a Sheriff or Constable, I would file a greivance (sp?) or complaint concnering official oppresion with the City Council/Mayors or City Managers office about this public offcials lack of regard for the law and a citizen’s well being (he is charged with serving and protecting afterall).
I would write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper about a cop making physical threats against you with a copy sent to the mayor of the redneck’s town.
You need to find out were they hid that physco magnet on you and get it removed.
Every time you go out someones trying to kill you. You sure you weren’t doing wheelies in the middle of the road again?
I’ve had my fair share of incidents around here but most are mild…but come to think of it I did have people attempt to run me off the road twice last year. Then there was that CV cop that pulled the whole biking group over that one Tuesday…oh and city council complaining that we bikers use to much of the parking lot…Hmmmm maybe this isn’t such a safe place to be biking.
He was jealous of your Litespeed. God knows I am. Post a picture for everyone, it is sooooo tasty.
This is the only picture I have handy at this point…the bike has Chorus 10 Der’s on it…all the rest is Record, Record Carbon Post and Flite two color yellow/black seat.
No I was NOT doing wheelies in the road again…that was funny though was it not…cycling pirouettes and crashes…LOL – I just should not have tried to do one handed wheelies rodeo style – I not so bright.
Just make sure you Bar-B-Que this mother %#$@er by any means possible. Letters to paper, T.V. etc. Don’t let people get away with this crap. Make him sweat. If most of us act like that in our career, we’d lose our jobs. Cops shouldn’t be any different. Power hungry #@$!@#$…
I would document the whole thing very carefully. Send the letter to the city council and cc: the editor of the newspaper and at least one other reporter.
I have found that mouthing off to cops, even if you are in the right, doesn’t serve you well.
You might want to think about who you’re going to call for bail money next time you ride through this guy’s jurisdiction. Do you have a purty mouth? (Cue ‘Dueling Banjos’)
Edit: I just found out the actual title of the Deliverance song is “Feudin’ Banjos,” which I think is much more fitting.
I don’t know if y’all get small town behavior/thinking. If someone from the, relatively speaking, big town of Rockford writes letters complaining about the small town chief of police, the town will more than likely side with the chief as he lives there and they know this guy. They see him everyday, probably drink with him, hunt/fish with him.
Writing a letter, in all likelihood, will just make the situation worse.
Byron PD gets 5000 e-mails reporting harassment of cyclist. heh heh heh.