BLURRY LINES BETWEEN BIKERS, POLICE CLUBS DRAW CONCERN

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Police officers and outlaw biker gangs often stand on common ground. Both attract the young and adventurous who value order, discipline and brotherhood. And on weekends tens of thousands of cops routinely trade their cruisers and badges for choppers and club colors.

The bond doesn't mean a free pass for criminal motorcycle gangs, but even some within law enforcement worry that too many officers believe bikers are just misunderstood Robin Hoods. And empathy from officers who emulate or even aspire to the outlaw life can put police or the public at risk, gang experts warn.

"They're supposed to be putting them in jail, not schmoozing with them, not socializing with them," said Charlie Fuller, a retired special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "That's a no-brainer to me. You have a huge security issue for the whole department. Here's a cop that's hanging with them socially. What's he telling them? What are they asking him?"

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BIKER_GANGS_POLICE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-06-07-12-40-22