100 Years Ago Today, Streator Got Its First Motorcycle Cop

Would bringing back just one be such a bad idea?

On this day a century ago, Streator introduced its first motorcycle policeman. Officer Irwin Pugh had just arrived back from Toledo, Ohio, and wasted no time making an impression—ticketing a speeder named George L. Mosley on North Wasson Street his very first day on the job. Mosley paid a $5 fine and court costs after pleading guilty before Police Magistrate Bean. The city announced a new push to crack down on speeders and traffic violators.

It was 1925. And they were already dealing with reckless drivers.

Fast forward 100 years, and the problem hasn’t gone away. Today it’s dirt bikes weaving through traffic, side-by-sides ripping across fields, and trucks fishtailing out of convenience store parking lots. Meanwhile, patrol cars aren’t exactly built for off-road chases, and our officers can’t be everywhere at once.

So here’s a simple question:
Would adding just one motorcycle or ATV back into the police department be worth trying?

Not a fleet. Not a big budget overhaul. Just one agile vehicle that could help with park patrols, alley shortcuts, and those hard-to-reach places where bad behavior tends to thrive.

If it worked in 1925, maybe it’s worth a look in 2025.