Capitol Hill police give Segway a try

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Capitol Hill police give Segway a try--By MAX HEUER - WASHINGTON — Gliding atop a Segway Human Transporter, shifting forward, then back, and finally spinning around on the West front of the Capitol, Officer Ronald Sellner was enjoying himself on a recent sunny weekday afternoon. Full Article (http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_show.html?article=15004)

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quote:
Capitol Hill police
give Segway a try
By MAX HEUER
Special to The Union Leader

WASHINGTON — Gliding atop a Segway Human Transporter, shifting forward, then back, and finally spinning around on the West front of the Capitol, Officer Ronald Sellner was enjoying himself on a recent sunny weekday afternoon.

About 10 people watched Sellner, a 10-year veteran of the Capitol Police force, who ignored a handful of noisy anti-war protesters to talk with reporters and other passersby while he balanced on the Segway.

Dealing with angry protesters, lost tourists and Capitol crime can be grueling work, but the Capitol Police force is currently testing the Segway to determine whether the device could make their job easier.

Sellner is one of six Capitol officers, selected out of 1,400 mostly on the basis of seniority, chosen for the Segway test to test whether it would improve response time and effectiveness of officers moving quickly in a large crowd.

“It’s like a futuristic Roman chariot,” Sellner said, demonstrating his control over the two-wheeled device by easing backward on it and then turning quickly. He added he thought his 3-year-old son “would love it.”

“It is very important” for Capitol police officers “to interact with the public and do hands-on work,” deputy chief Marsha Krug said. “Standing on the Segway gives you the ability to have that personal interaction.” Krug added that recently appointed Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer was interested in using technology to upgrade police work.

The two Segway devices are being leased from the New Hampshire-based Segway company for two months at a total cost of $1,400.

Krug said different divisions within the department would be testing the vehicles every day, operating the vehicle on different terrains and in tight spaces among crowds of people.

Officers need to move from the various congressional office buildings quickly, she said. “On the Segway a person can move rather quickly to an incident to assist in any kind of situation.”

Sellner, who underwent an eight-hour training course, said learning to balance on the machine was the trickiest part of operating it. Once while practicing, the machine’s sensitivity made Sellner stop short accidentally and fall forward.

“You lean forward and it wants to go the full (12 mph),” he said.

Sellner said he thought the Segway would help an officer in a foot chase, but not necessarily more than a mountain bike or motorcycle. While the device moves well up hills and on flat ground, Sellner said it could not climb stairs, an important consideration since there are numerous staircases on the Capitol grounds.

The police have six or seven mountain bikes and 30 to 40 motorcycles on patrol each day, Sellner said.

Krug said the Segway costs $4,000 to $5,000, depending on the features, and that there is some concern officers would become less fit if they rarely had to walk on patrols.

She said the decision about whether to purchase any Segways for the department would be made before the end of this year, after a survey.

Krug said there is a small amount of money available in this year’s budget that could go toward buying a few of the machines, but a major purchase would have to be included in future budgets.

The National Parks Service, Boston EMS Department and the Chicago Police Department are also testing the Segway, considering possible future use in their departments.