Wild Riders: Blurring the Line Between Cops and Bikers

by Kerry Ramsay with files from Detective Pete Willetts, Peel Regional Police

Roaring down the highway on their trademark Harley Davidsons, hard-core biker gang members in Ontario are hard to miss. Leather jackets, club colors and elaborate tattoos set them apart from other motorcycle riders on the road.

These days, however, the line between outlaw motorcycle gangs and law enforcement officers - once clearly drawn - is becoming blurred. Some law enforcement agents are joining biker groups with questionable reputations - most notably the Wild Pigs Motorcycle Club - and that is a concern to police management, ethics advisors and anti-gang units alike.

The Wild Pigs Motorcycle Club, made up of serving police officers, firefighters and correctional officers, is one of several law-enforcement motorcycle clubs operating across North America. Last June, 50 members of the Wild Pigs traveled to Mississauga, Ontario, to discuss the formation of an Ontario chapter with police officers in the area. Shortly afterward, the first Canadian chapter of the Wild Pigs was formed.

At press time, the chapter had six members, including two members of the Peel Regional Police, two Metro Toronto Police officers and one corrections officer. The club is actively soliciting new recruits across Canada.

"The public gets worried when they see outlaw motorcycle gang members in their neighborhoods," observes Detective Pete Willetts, a member of the Peel Regional Police who has dealt with biker gangs since 1984 "I don’t think we need to fog the issue by having our police officers looking and behaving the same way."

There is a real fine line here between cops and bikers," agrees Sgt. Steve Tretheway of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, who has researched the Wild Pigs and their activities. "These guys like to play cop by day and biker by night. They want the best of both worlds."

The Wild Pigs club was founded in California in 1988 to raise funds for charities and community events. The club’s image became tainted, however, when a Hell’s Angels member arrested on warrant contacted the founder - a California Highway Patrol officer - for help in making bail. The police officer was subsequently demoted. Another California Highway Patrol officer and member of the Wild Pigs was suspended in connection with the incident.

These and other allegations surrounding the integrity of club members have brought the Wild Pigs into disrepute and have incited an ethical debate in many police forces. In December 1993, photos showing members of Wild Pigs arm in arm with members of the Hell’s Angels were published in Outlaw Biker magazine. In 1995, Wild Pigs members were charged with obstructing justice in Connecticut when evidence was destroyed in an investigation of the Diabolos motorcycle gang.

There is a real fine line here between cops and bikers," agrees Sgt. Steve Tretheway of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, who has researched the Wild Pigs and their activities. "These guys like to play cop by day and biker by night. They want the best of both worlds."

The Wild Pigs club was founded in California in 1988 to raise funds for charities and community events. The club’s image became tainted, however, when a Hell’s Angels member arrested on warrant contacted the founder - a California Highway Patrol officer - for help in making bail. The police officer was subsequently demoted. Another California Highway Patrol officer and member of the Wild Pigs was suspended in connection with the incident.

These and other allegations surrounding the integrity of club members have brought the Wild Pigs into disrepute and have incited an ethical debate in many police forces. In December 1993, photos showing members of Wild Pigs arm in arm with members of the Hell’s Angels were published in Outlaw Biker magazine. In 1995, Wild Pigs members were charged with obstructing justice in Connecticut when evidence was destroyed in an investigation of the Diabolos motorcycle gang.

At the same time, the Force’s stance on the Wild Pigs does not preclude members from riding motorbikes or even belonging to other biker associations, such as the Blue Knights. "It is not the activity of biking that is frowned upon," explains Cummins. "What is questionable is the association of police officers with groups that the public might perceive as criminal. Such activity runs counter to standards outlined in the RCMP Act, as well as the mission, vision and values of the Force."

Those who know the club well caution that police involvement with the Wild Pigs could have wide-reaching ramifications. "What started out as a social club has evolved," says Willets. "Members are drifting away from their police identity toward a gang profile. There’s a shadow over the whole club. This is not the image we want to portray as police officers."

From Pony Express, News Magazine of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police