KTLA News: "California Highway Patrol's first woman motorcycle officer" (1980)

They helped me. If it wasn't for them, I would have never made it. They were out here helping me every day and different officers every day come out and tell me a little, you know, something different. Turn your head more, lean more. And without them, I I know I wouldn't have made it. [Music] Mona will be riding the freeways with Officer Prito for 26 more days. After that, she's on her own. Dixie Watley reporting for News at 10. bike, you know, that kind of thing. I think that's the kind of you had a mishap or anything. >> Um, well, when I was younger, >> you ever done any dirt bike riding or anything in the academy? been on. Oh, you've been >> turn the fact that she is a woman that she is riding a motorcycle. It's a first. Uh it's uh something that's been a male bastion up till now. >> Could I tag along with them? >> So you knew how to drive one? >> Um I knew how to drive in straight lines. It just maybe a couple years ago I learned to make turns. >> Uhhuh. >> Well, thank you. >> You're welcome. Pull over. [Music] on your way. Am I [Music] [Music] What is it? [Music] Red one. >> Red one. [Music] Came out. [Music] by to become a CHP officer. Correct. >> I thought it would be exciting and that's why I did it. >> What kind of special training has gone into this for you? Well, there was a five-month academy to join the highway patrol and then there's a two-eek academy for a motorcycle officer. >> What kind of attention have you received being the first woman to be a motorcycle officer? >> I think this attention here is about the most I've received. >> What about among your your fellow officers when you when they first found out? >> Have you found any difficulties at all in your training and learning to handle the bike and in working with other officers? Well, most of the problems I had were overcome by the other officers tell showing me a different technique or something that might work a little easier for me. >> What was the biggest problem you had? >> Well, the biggest problem I had at first was picking up the bike cuz I was doing it all wrong and then they showed me the technique of rocking it and, you know, picking it up off the crash bar and then I had no problem. >> Little trick to it, huh? >> Yeah. >> You expect any problem at all when you're out patrolling? >> No. >> What is it you like about it? Oh, I don't know. I think it's real exciting to uh drive down the freeway and not have to wait in traffic and I I just love riding a motorcycle. >> Were you had familiar with motorcycles before this? >> It's like um >> Captain, were there any unusual situations in training a woman officer? >> Well, there's been a lot of pressure on Mona. Uh number one, because she's the first woman to ride a motorcycle, and it's she's very popular in the office. There's been a lot of teasing. There was a lot of questions about who was going to train her. >> We had several volunteers. We think Mona would be an outstanding writer. >> When you say they're >> No, not really because Mona worked so hard. She came out here every day on her own time on her days off and spent uh two or three hours a day going through a course that we set up for her to practice before she went to the training school. So there's no resentment at all. Captain, why has it taken so long to get a woman on the CHP motorbikes? >> Well, we've only had women for the last few years, and she's the first one that's really put forth the effort to do it and really wanted to do it. >> Is it does it have anything to do with the affirmative action and getting women in >> Mona will be riding with Officer Prio for 26 more days. After that, she's on the freeways alone. Dixie Watley reporting for News at 10.