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UNL officers trading cars for Segways

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By MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 - 12:47:28 am CDT

It won’t be long before University of Nebraska-Lincoln police officers are tooling around campus on a new kind of two-wheeled device: Segway Personal Transporters.

UNL Police recently purchased four of the gadgets, Capt. Carl Oestmann said. Officers are wrapping up training and will debut them in the next two weeks.

The department hopes the electric devices will help save on fuel as well as reflect an effort to make officers more accessible.

Story Photo
Aaron Pembleton, a UNL Police officer, demonstrates his Segway to passer by Larry McCarthy at 17th and Q streets Friday afternoon. The department recently purchased four Segways for patrol and special events. "These things are just silly fun. And a great tool, too," Pembleton said. (William Lauer)

“You’re a lot more approachable on one of these things than in a vehicle,” Oestmann said.

So far, he said, the Segways are proving effective patrolling tools.  Unlike cars, they can reach just about every area of campus, even inside buildings.

They also move easily up and down parking garage ramps and, because they position officers about 8 inches off the ground, give a better view of their surroundings, Oestmann said.

That could be especially beneficial in large crowds like those at home football games. This fall, officers on Segways will patrol at Memorial Stadium and at other special events, Oestmann said.

And while bicycles help keep officers in shape, Segways could be useful for preserving their energy during longer, more demanding shifts.

“The officers just enjoy it,” Oestmann said. “They’re very anxious to get these Segways out on patrol.”

UNL officers will continue to patrol campus in cars and on bikes. But the Segways will trim car use, saving fuel costs and reducing wear-and-tear on the vehicles, Oestmann said.

In fact, as gas prices rise, officers already have been asked to use bikes when possible and to use such fuel-saving tips in their cars as turning them off during idle times.

Those efforts have saved the department about $900 in the past two months, Oestmann said.

“That’s a pretty good trend, and the Segways should be another way to continue that trend,” he said. “We feel they’re going to be a benefit for us.”

UNL Police opted for the i2 Police models, which a Segway customer service representative said retail for $5,875.

The Lincoln Police Department also has shown interest in the fuel-saving Segways.

In May, the department’s Northeast Team got two Segways to try out for a week.

Chief Tom Casady said then he expects to see more demand for Segways, given rising gas prices.

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.


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UNL Student wrote on July 19, 2008 1:33 am:
" So why can't they ride bikes or walk like students on campus? Oh wait, they need to find another way to justify raising my tuition. "

 Give me a break wrote on July 19, 2008 6:48 am:
" Segway's instead of bikes?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Segways are not nearly as fast or manuverable as their bikes and the bikes cost about $1,000 as compared to $5,000+! I just don't get the police department anymore and am tired of paying for their new toys so they can continue to get lazier and lazier. Bikes would generally help them get more in shape without them even realizing it. Segways are not the way to go... not at all! "

 me wrote on July 19, 2008 7:28 am:
" "These things are just silly fun. And a great tool, too," Pembleton said. Thats' the problem. They are just buying toys for the officers. Make them pedal a bike like everyone else! Now LPD will think they definitely have to have them, as they are not to be outdone! What a waste of money. "

 Cool wrote on July 19, 2008 7:58 am:
" UNLPD is always at the head of new technology. Segways, DVD in car cameras, ear-piece cameras, GIS mapping. Keep up the good work guys/gals! Wonder what they will come up with next? "

 cb wrote on July 19, 2008 8:38 am:
" Boy and their toys.

If they really are helpful - go for it.

But they do look like they need a wind up key. "

 Prairie Dog wrote on July 19, 2008 10:32 am:
" What a great application for them. I can see how a smaller area would be more suitable for the department rather than the City department. Slick. "

 DR wrote on July 19, 2008 10:48 am:
" Ahh yes..... My tuition dollars at work.... "

 i wrote on July 19, 2008 12:00 pm:
" Don't see how Tom Casady "expects to see more demand for Segways, given rising gas prices." They only go 12.5 mph. So if you live near SouthPointe and work on Cornhusker highway you will take approx.an hour to get to work. Plus the range on these are about 24 miles. So I hope your employer has a place to charge it or you may risk not getting home. "

 Wally wrote on July 19, 2008 12:34 pm:
" Like they will ever save $20,000 dollars in fuel by using Segways. Who the heck makes these decisions? No wonder every gov organization is always broke and looking for the next taxpayer handout. "

 Um.... wrote on July 19, 2008 2:11 pm:
" What happens when an officer has to give chase to someone through grass? or up a hill? They're just going to leave their Segway behind? "

 yoshiki wrote on July 19, 2008 3:59 pm:
" Why don't they get motorcycles also? They fuel efficient, plus you can use them on roadways, too..... "

 FYI wrote on July 19, 2008 4:55 pm:
" police in big metropolis use these.... "

 So great... wrote on July 19, 2008 5:17 pm:
" I can't wait for the next time I cause some ruckus and the UNLPD has to "chase" me on a segway. Good luck catching me officers! Something tells me segway is hurting for business. "

 CS wrote on July 19, 2008 5:22 pm:
" Where, oh where in the article did it say that your tuition goes directly to this, or even indirectly. They could have gotten a grant like LPD did. There is something to be said for a vehicle that can't be stolen by the first idiot that hops on it (a bike), and If they aren't driving they aren't wasting fuel idling to keep the police equipment running in the car. Just because you go there and pay tuition doesn't mean they answer directly to you-some of that is above your pay grade. "

 Harleys rule wrote on July 19, 2008 5:53 pm:
" UNLPD did have a Harley a few years ago. Wonder what happened to it?? "

 CS wrote on July 19, 2008 6:12 pm:
" The speed of an i2 police issue Segway is 12.5 miles an hour-somehow, unless you are Micheal Johnson in the 100 meter dash, I think they will probably do just fine. "

 New to Linclon wrote on July 19, 2008 7:46 pm:
" So these must be legle to use on the Sidewalks of Lincoln? "

 UNL Student wrote on July 19, 2008 8:32 pm:
" just go up a few stairs. Unlike bikes where you can jump stairs or carry a bike for few seconds, you can't carry these segways up stairs or even over small 3- fences. Segways are simply ridiculous!

Ohhh... and UNL PD is paid through tuition dollars. And grants come from tax dollars. So either way, we're paying for this. "

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on July 19, 2008 8:34 pm:
" If UNL wants to save some money...they could park those shuttle buses that ply campus almost non-stop. Their empty most of the time. They run when the students are out of town for holiday. It's crazy! Who's paying for all that wasted gas? "

 jack frost wrote on July 19, 2008 9:25 pm:
" what will they do in the winter on the snow and ice "

 Good idea wrote on July 19, 2008 9:48 pm:
" There are numerous progressive law enforcement agencies along the front range of Colorado that use them for patrol and special events and they have proven to be a great asset. Way to go UNLPD! Ignore the nay-sayers and keep up the great job! "

 Cat wrote on July 19, 2008 10:03 pm:
" It IS still illegal to use them on city streets or sidewalks... "

 Charles wrote on July 19, 2008 10:36 pm:
" Uh, 12.5 mph is pretty slow compare to what most people can sprint. I'm a nonathletic fat guy that ran the 100m in 14 seconds in high school. I was at the back end of the pack. That speed is like 16 miles per hour, so I don't think that it is all that difficult to outrun a Segway for short distances. Regardless, the are a high visibility public relations tool. They can be dumped if need to pursue a suspect, and they will ensure that officers have fresh legs if they need to do so. "

 tyler wrote on July 19, 2008 10:50 pm:
" unl is state property, not city; thus the city laws don't apply to state property "

 CS wrote on July 19, 2008 11:06 pm:
" Law enforcement officers have several exceptions to the rules that citizens don't get as a part of doing their job. It's the way things work in many professions-if you don't like it, well, there's not much you can do about it. Segways can take steps, too, by the way, and handle snow and ice better than a bike because of where the center of gravity is located. Did anyone actually READ about the capabilities of these machines or do you just make up stuff based on your interpretation of things? They aren't using them as primary patrol vehicles, and im pretty sure they have minimum fitness standards to uphold just like any other police dept. (since they are certified LE officers in the State of NE) so they can probably dismount if they need to and still take on all of you he-men on campus that think the 40 oz lift is an Olympic event. "

 to Mrs. Johnson wrote on July 20, 2008 3:55 am:
" those buses are paid for via student fees...we pay transportation fees that were voted on through ASUN so we could use those buses if we park far away from class or need to shuttle between east and city campus. I usggest you know how UNL works before commenting "

 Animal Lover wrote on July 20, 2008 5:19 pm:
" Why not bring back some police department horses? They work in NYC? "

 To Cat and Tyler wrote on July 20, 2008 5:29 pm:
" Yep, they may be illegal on city streets and sidewalks (through a combination of both state and city laws), but LE gets an exemption to that. Tyler, yes the U is state property, but still falls under state motor vehicle laws and city ordinances. "

 Parent of UNL students wrote on July 20, 2008 9:19 pm:
" Segways can't take steps like a bike. No way, no how. You can't go at multiple steps at 30 mph and jump it without slowing down like you can on a bike. and you can't go as fast or change direction like you can on a bike. I don't know who approves to pay for these through any budget or grant at times like these. I'll be sure to find out soon and let them have a few words on how lazy they are in life and in spending money, MY TAXPAYER or TUITION DOLLARS that I have to pay for my 2 kids to attend. Especially after it jumped another 6% this year per credit hour! "

 CS wrote on July 21, 2008 1:18 pm:
" I doubt most UNL PD officers could either, or any, for that matter. You are expecting Olympic level bike handling from UNLPD? Get real-if they had that kind of training you'd probably complain about paying for that too. Their bikes already cost upwards of 500-700 a piece as it is, if they are good ones. "

 Laws wrote on July 21, 2008 3:07 pm:
" No, you can not enforce city ordinances on state property. Call the city attny or county attny if you do not beleive me. "

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