luckie
06-22-2006, 01:37 PM
Scooter Squad: Temecula police roll out new sidewalk-friendly rides
June 21, 2006
By TIM O'LEARY
The Press-Enterprise
http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ssegs22.1accc9a.html
http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2006/06-22/sseg22fdba_300.jpg
(Photo) Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise
Jerome Joyner, a Temecula police officer, rides one of the new Segway Human Transporters that officers will use on patrol. Their Segways have sirens and red, blue and white flashing lights.
TEMECULA - Marking a first for Riverside County, Temecula police on Wednesday rolled out the first Segway Human Transporters that will be used to patrol schools, shopping centers and special events. Three of the vertical scooters were unveiled during an hour-long press conference that featured a science-fiction flair. "They do look kind of spacey," said Ana Garcia, a 37-year-old Murrieta resident, as she briefly lingered at the press conference while shopping at The Promenade mall with her three children. "They do attract attention." The devices, which have already been used at the mall and a high school graduation, drew attention from many drivers and shoppers, as a trio of officers zipped and turned while activating their sirens and red, blue and white flashing lights. Meanwhile, police officials described how the lithium-battery-powered scooters are whisper silent, can travel 12 ½ mph and go over stairs and curbs. They cost pennies a day to operate, are safer than bicycles, and give officers greater height, mobility, visibility and range than foot patrols.
They also said Segways will foster greater officer interaction with curious youths and adults. "It's just amazing," mused city Police Chief Mitch Alm. Temecula has received four Segways, which cost about $6,000 each, and eventually about 100 officers and non-sworn personnel will be trained to use them, said police Lt. Cynthia Wait. Three more scooters will arrive next month. Two will be deployed at the mall. Two will be used in Old Town and the rest will be assigned to the community's three high schools, she said. Law officers in Redlands and Loma Linda currently use Segways, and Temecula officials have been peppered by calls from other police stations and agencies since word began to circulate about their arrival here, Alm said. The company's Internet site notes a growing use of the single-rider, vertical vehicles by police and lists about 90 law enforcement, military, university, private security, bomb squads, malls and other organizations that currently use them.
Temecula City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards, among about 20 people who attended the unveiling, said she rode a Segway at a League of California Cities conference earlier this year. She said they're easy to ride once you get the hang of it. Operators lean forward or backward to accelerate in either direction and turn by twisting their left wrist. "I think we're going to find that they are more beneficial than we anticipated," she said, noting officers' newfound ability to sneak up on taggers, drug users and suspected vehicle thieves. Meanwhile, police Officer Brian Askins, who is assigned to the mall and has already used a Segway on a parking lot call, was having fun spinning and accelerating. "They're paying me right now," he said, a broad smile splashed across his face.
June 21, 2006
By TIM O'LEARY
The Press-Enterprise
http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ssegs22.1accc9a.html
http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2006/06-22/sseg22fdba_300.jpg
(Photo) Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise
Jerome Joyner, a Temecula police officer, rides one of the new Segway Human Transporters that officers will use on patrol. Their Segways have sirens and red, blue and white flashing lights.
TEMECULA - Marking a first for Riverside County, Temecula police on Wednesday rolled out the first Segway Human Transporters that will be used to patrol schools, shopping centers and special events. Three of the vertical scooters were unveiled during an hour-long press conference that featured a science-fiction flair. "They do look kind of spacey," said Ana Garcia, a 37-year-old Murrieta resident, as she briefly lingered at the press conference while shopping at The Promenade mall with her three children. "They do attract attention." The devices, which have already been used at the mall and a high school graduation, drew attention from many drivers and shoppers, as a trio of officers zipped and turned while activating their sirens and red, blue and white flashing lights. Meanwhile, police officials described how the lithium-battery-powered scooters are whisper silent, can travel 12 ½ mph and go over stairs and curbs. They cost pennies a day to operate, are safer than bicycles, and give officers greater height, mobility, visibility and range than foot patrols.
They also said Segways will foster greater officer interaction with curious youths and adults. "It's just amazing," mused city Police Chief Mitch Alm. Temecula has received four Segways, which cost about $6,000 each, and eventually about 100 officers and non-sworn personnel will be trained to use them, said police Lt. Cynthia Wait. Three more scooters will arrive next month. Two will be deployed at the mall. Two will be used in Old Town and the rest will be assigned to the community's three high schools, she said. Law officers in Redlands and Loma Linda currently use Segways, and Temecula officials have been peppered by calls from other police stations and agencies since word began to circulate about their arrival here, Alm said. The company's Internet site notes a growing use of the single-rider, vertical vehicles by police and lists about 90 law enforcement, military, university, private security, bomb squads, malls and other organizations that currently use them.
Temecula City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards, among about 20 people who attended the unveiling, said she rode a Segway at a League of California Cities conference earlier this year. She said they're easy to ride once you get the hang of it. Operators lean forward or backward to accelerate in either direction and turn by twisting their left wrist. "I think we're going to find that they are more beneficial than we anticipated," she said, noting officers' newfound ability to sneak up on taggers, drug users and suspected vehicle thieves. Meanwhile, police Officer Brian Askins, who is assigned to the mall and has already used a Segway on a parking lot call, was having fun spinning and accelerating. "They're paying me right now," he said, a broad smile splashed across his face.