Bruno Van Doren - RIJKSWACHT

Bruno Van Doren
(Belgian Highway Patrol) My name is Bruno Van Doren and I'm 28 years old. I live in Belgium in a City called Mechelen. It's situated in between of Antwerp and Brussels. I'm a police officer, member of the State Police - Highway Patrol, since December 1996. Our headquarters is stationed in Antwerp. I chose to serve in the Highway Patrol because in our State Police (called RIJKSWACHT) there are only two possibilities to ride a motorcycle and that's in the Highway Patrol and in a special department (this department is for protection of the Belgian King and his family). Another possibility to ride a motorcycle, is to join the local police, but this isn't really that simple (switching between state and local police).

I joined the RIJKSWACHT in December 1991. I had to run school for 1 full year. After that I was stationed in Brussels, our capital. My main task here was riot control and protection of embassies.

Then I had a 4-month motorcycle training program, which started in August 1996. We first drove a HONDA 250 enduro, before to step on the BMW K100. After these 4 months I moved to Antwerp, being a member of the HP. In January 1997 we changed the BMW K100 for the BMW K1100 LT. I like the K1100 better for its suspension. It feels more secure to me.

Now they are testing the BMW R1100RT and the HONDA ST1100 Pan European forus. As soon as I know what it's going to be, I'll let you know. I hope to beable to add a picture as well.

As a member of the HP we do not only ride motorcycles, we also have cars (VOLVO S70, PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, SAAB 9000).
Kind regards,
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Bruno Van Doren