TROY — Sheriff Charles Cox told Miami County commissioners Thursday, July 17, the finishing touches are being put on a plan to save gas by parking two department cruisers and assigning two deputies to motorcycles.

Deputies Josh Adkins and Mark Friend, both life-long motorcycle riders, have been selected for the motorcycle patrols and are attending schooling, Cox said.

Cox said deputies will begin using the motorcycles on first or second shifts once a two-year lease for the vehicles is approved by the commission.

A policy for use is being finalized. It will include a ban against use of the motorcycles for high-speed pursuits.

The weather will dictate when the motorcycles will be on the road. One plus of using motorcycles is they can easily access the county's growing number of bicycle trails, Cox said.

How much gas, and money, the switch in vehicles will save remains to be seen, he said.

Use of the motorcycles will not add to the county's vehicle or worker's compensation insurance. "We were glad to hear that," Commissioner John "Bud" O'Brien said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.