luckie
07-14-2006, 02:15 PM
Amherst police patrols on a high-tech roll
By EVAN PARKER PIERCE
News Staff Reporter
7/14/2006
The Amherst Police Department rolled into the future Thursday, thanks to a high-tech crime-fighting tool..
The Amherst Police Foundation donated a pair of Segways - self-balancing, two-wheeled personal transport devices - to the department. They will be used to patrol the Village of Williamsville and town parks. "Because they're motorized, officers can patrol more efficiently," Capt. David Hoy said. "These things . . . go places you wouldn't go on a bike." Amherst is the first area police department to get Segways but not the first in Western New York. Greece, a suburb of Rochester, obtained Segways in 2005 to patrol the local mall.
The police models retail at about $6,500, about $1,500 more than the standard Segway available to the public. The units have a top speed of 12.5 mph and enough battery power to run up to 24 miles. "It's high-pitched, almost like the European siren - high-low, high-low," said Rob Hausrath, owner of Segway of Western New York in the Town of Tonawanda. Hausrath's company sold the Segways to the foundation.
Other police features include a mechanism that automatically shuts the Segway off when an officer dismounts quickly to respond to a situation, and prevents it from being restarted except by the officer. Hoy said the Segways are part of an effort by the foundation to provide Amherst police with cutting-edge equipment. He said only officers trained in Segway patrols will use the units, with three officers trained to use them.
By EVAN PARKER PIERCE
News Staff Reporter
7/14/2006
The Amherst Police Department rolled into the future Thursday, thanks to a high-tech crime-fighting tool..
The Amherst Police Foundation donated a pair of Segways - self-balancing, two-wheeled personal transport devices - to the department. They will be used to patrol the Village of Williamsville and town parks. "Because they're motorized, officers can patrol more efficiently," Capt. David Hoy said. "These things . . . go places you wouldn't go on a bike." Amherst is the first area police department to get Segways but not the first in Western New York. Greece, a suburb of Rochester, obtained Segways in 2005 to patrol the local mall.
The police models retail at about $6,500, about $1,500 more than the standard Segway available to the public. The units have a top speed of 12.5 mph and enough battery power to run up to 24 miles. "It's high-pitched, almost like the European siren - high-low, high-low," said Rob Hausrath, owner of Segway of Western New York in the Town of Tonawanda. Hausrath's company sold the Segways to the foundation.
Other police features include a mechanism that automatically shuts the Segway off when an officer dismounts quickly to respond to a situation, and prevents it from being restarted except by the officer. Hoy said the Segways are part of an effort by the foundation to provide Amherst police with cutting-edge equipment. He said only officers trained in Segway patrols will use the units, with three officers trained to use them.