Plenty of Houston Police far away from Houston, during the MS-150 bike ride this past weekend.

Odd thing. I rode the MS-150 bike ride from Houston to La Grange on Saturday 4/30, and La Grange to College Station on Sunday 05/01.

I lost count, but CERTAINLY saw at least 8 Houston Police patrol vehicles over the weekend, maybe a dozen. They were along the route at various points, but especially visible at the lunch stops and the end of the rides.

I know several HPD officers were on bikes doing the ride, so I speculate maybe the patrol cars were sent along for support.

Hey, I'm all for the cops and the more, the merrier. I liked seeing "POLICE" on a fair number of jerseys through the ride.

But it sure seems odd to see more police cars more than 100 miles away from Houston in a weekend than I've seen on the actual streets of Houston over the last six months!

Maybe the officers and those patrol cars got paid for by the MS Society? Or maybe someone donated the funds needed? Call me skeptical.

If City of Houston tax dollars were used for assigning a dozen or more uniformed officers and patrol cars to this assignment, on overtime, it seems almost criminally irresponsible. How about having those officers patrol the city of Houston?

Since the cops on bikes were obviously representing themselves as officers (granted, without wearing guns or badges), were they paid for riding the MS-150?

Just curious. Thoughts?