In the summer of 2005, the University Police Department purchased two Segway H.T.'s.  The HT stands for human transporter.  These two wheeled vehicles allow our officers to patrol the central core of campus as well as the inside of buildings.  Due to the core of campus no longer having thru streets, the police department had to come up with methods of patrolling that would be beneficial to the populace.  Purchasing these two Segway have helped accomplished this mission.  

Why have a Segway????

1. This allows our officers that patrol the campus to answer calls faster than others.  Our patrol officers must wait in traffic and then find a parking space.  Then they must walk to the area where the problem is.  Our bike officers can beat the patrol units, however, they must park their bike at a bike rack and then secure them.  This takes valuable time away from the call response.  On a Segway we can just ride up to a building and continue inside the building.

2.  Officers on a Segway are 8 to 10 inches taller than everyone else.  This allows our officers to keep a good lookout in a parking lot or large crowd.

3. Good conversation piece.  If you see an officer on a Segway, then stop them and they will show you the Segway.  Now due to policy, only our officers are allowed on the Segway, but they will show you how it works.