The Largo police budget doesn't run to Segway scooters, but officers are giving two of them a whirl, just in case.
By JILL ANN PERRINO
Published September 16, 2005
LARGO - Students at Largo Middle School were pretty excited this week when police brought out the two Segway Human Transporters loaned to the Largo Police Department for a tryout.
Seventh-grader John Little wanted to know:
"What does it run on?"
"How long does it go?"
"How fast does it go?"
And:
"Can you put spinners on that?"
Officers from the department's problem-oriented policing team are testing the Segway throughout the month. Earlier Wednesday they had been to Largo Mall, patrolling the area and talking to curious onlookers.
"We're not going to get them just because they're a novelty item," said Sgt. Mike Short, who heads the team. "We have to be responsible with our budget."
In any case, there isn't any money currently in the budget for the $6,100, fully loaded police model, said Officer Julie Williams, 30. A police and security model without the special heavy-duty stand, sirens and flashing red and blue lights, goes for $5,495. If police decide to purchase them, they will investigate private and public funding options, including grant money, Williams said.
Rick Owens, 31, one of the officers who will be responsible for making a recommendation, liked a lot of what he had learned about the transporters.
As an icebreaker, he said, the Segways are ideal. People come up to ask about the technology, and soon he's able to talk to them about other issues.
"We're just more approachable," he said.
"And visible," added Williams, noting that police presence is a big deterrent to crime.
This is just the reaction that Jack Boone, owner of Segway of Tampa Bay-Clearwater, expected when he offered the loan of his transporters to various police departments.
"Once officers try them and see the practicality of them, they will buy them," he said, noting that 90 police forces around the country already have Segways. His customers have included security personnel in two Florida airports and the Lee County Port Authority.
The newest models use lithium ion batteries and will run up to 24 hours and go 20 miles before they need recharging, Boone said.
"They use the same amount of energy as two 100-watt light bulbs and go the equivalent of 450 miles per gallon," he added.
Those who have tried the transporters find them fun and easy to maneuver. Short joked that he can tell who has recently been on one by their "Segway smile."
Because they are balanced, riders merely have to lean - forward to travel forward, back to move backward - explained Williams. To turn, simply rotate the hand control with your wrist.
"It's easy," she said. "Once you get the hang of it, you can turn on a dime."
On the Segway, officers will be able to move at the same pace as those around them, or quickly glide through open areas, moving up to 121/2 mph.
Owens said the Segway is ideal for patrolling downtown areas, parks, mobile home communities, schools and special events. Their lights, sirens and rear reflectors make these 83-pound devices practical even for use at night.
Seventh-grade guidance counselor LaShawn Moore thought the Segway would be very useful for a campus as large as Largo Middle School.
School resource officer Mike Stephenson thinks the Segways are great and says that the kids really like them. But as far as needing one, he will be evaluating the Segway's usefulness and practicality in his daily routine.
"We're very lucky that Chief Aradi is open-minded enough to evaluate something this new," Short said.
