Palm Springs police chief grounds motorcycle fleet after parade crash

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills has ordered all motorcycle operations in his department to cease pending an administrative review following a crash at the Festival of Lights Parade Saturday that injured 12 people, including the officer involved.

In response to the incident, Mills said Monday he has instituted a comprehensive series of immediate initiatives. These include suspending all motorcycle officer operations pending a full administrative review, engaging the California Highway Patrol to conduct an external and impartial investigation into the collision, and launching a thorough examination of the Traffic Division’s existing policies, procedures, and historical practices.

Mills is also calling for the creation of a new unit manual specifically outlining protocols for motor unit activities during heavily populated events, implementing department-wide training on decision-making and risk assessment, and initiating an Internal Affairs personnel investigation to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We’re going to look at what we did, how we did it, and look at the inconsistencies of what our procedures are and fix those things,” Mills told KESQ, “whether it’s training or equipment or our behaviors, it’s going to have to get fixed.”

Mills is also addressing certain maneuvers that motorcycle officers were doing Saturday evening that alarmed parade viewers — “wheelies or clutch pops” — that he said will never be allowed at public events again.

“(T)hat is never going to take place again,” he told the television station. “I can guarantee you that nobody in this department will pop a wheelie on their motorcycle ever again.”

Of the 12 people injured during the incident, including the officer, three remain in the hospital undergoing treatment. The Walter Clark legal group told NBC Palm Springs on Monday that it is preparing to file claims against the city on behalf of some of the injured individuals. Those claims must be filed within a six-month window.

Mills visited the injured officer — Ken Merenda — Sunday along with Mayor Jeffery Bernstein and City Manager Scott Stiles. He reported that Merenda “was alert and conversant” and expressed concern for others injured in the incident.

On Monday, Mills acknowledged the emotional toll on Merenda, stating, “He’s struggling, as you might imagine, having the potential loss of a career. But the doctors have done such an amazing job that he’ll be able to heal and come back and work and serve this community like he has always.”

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