By Chris Fish
Staff writer
BREVARD - The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is on the path to creating stronger prevention and community programs with a futuristic gift they received Sept. 22 from Melbourne-based business and reality TV stars Parker Brothers Concepts.
The fully electric, futuristic motorcycle, complete with blue lights and a siren, resembles motorcycles featured in the 2010 film, "Tron Legacy."
The one-of-a-kind vehicle, which is valued at more than $50,000 and is capable of exceeding speeds of 100 mph, will be used locally to initiate conversations between deputy sheriff's officers and youth about a variety of public safety issues.
"We are blessed as a community that Parker Brothers Concepts decided to relocate to Brevard County," said Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker, in a press release. "One of the very few things they did after opening their new building was to start finding ways to benefit the Brevard community."
Brothers Marc and Shanon Parker started Parker Brothers Choppers - now known as Parker Brothers Concepts - more than three years ago, after creating their version of the "Batpod," Batman's futuristic vehicle seen in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Trilogy."
The brothers' imagination grew, and they began working on a motorcycle, similar to the one donated to the Sheriff's Office, called the "Xenon." The Xenon was the first tangible, street-legal bike created to look identical to the virtual Tron Light Cycle.
After the creation of the Xenon, the brothers started to attract several big-named customers, including Shaquille O'Neal, rapper 50 Cent and WWE wrestler John Cena.
The Brothers eventually landed a television series deal with Syfy called "Dream Machines." The show aired its first season and will soon air its second this spring.
Jeff Halverson, managing director and the Parker Brother's contact for celebrity clientele, said the donation of the bike to the Brevard County Sheriff's Department is part of a plan to build and donate a bike to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida to help raise money for a new facility in Cocoa.
"If you look at all of the Boys and Girls Clubs around the state, there are 22 locations in Orlando and only 2 in Brevard County," Mr. Halverson said. "We are giving back to the community. Our biggest passion is the children and helping at-risk youth. We have been fortunate enough and blessed enough to be able to do this."
Mr. Halverson said the bike donated to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office will help children see police officers in a friendly and positive way.
"It shows that the police are there to help them if there is ever an issue, and, hopefully, it will deter youth-crime," he said. "When I was a kid, it wasn't cool to be seen with the police. Hopefully, this will change that perception."
Mr. Halverson said the shop takes pride in helping Brevard County out in financial ways, as well.
"We try to make everything in Brevard County if we can," he said. "We don't outsource any of the work it takes to create our vehicles. We hire and contract here. On average, we keep 85 percent of our revenue in Brevard County."
Parker Brothers Concepts is located at 2335 Aurora Road in Melbourne.
For more information or special requests, call Jeff Halverson at (321) 215-5116 or visit www.parkerbrothersconcepts.com.