There are certain things only a patrol vehicle can do. Then there are other tasks for which they are not so well-suited — ones that alternative modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles (EV,) scooters and transporters, ATVs, utility vehicles (UV), personal watercraft (PWC), even one-man armored devices can perform more efficiently and cost effectively.
Electric vehicles in particular are getting a lot of attention these days, thanks to the dual concerns over rising gas prices and emissions, says Brian Wynne, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the promotion of electric drive transportation. According to Wynne, inquires to the association have quintupled in the last year, many coming from all manner of fleet operators, including law enforcement agencies.
"Although there are limitations of speed and range, EVs can perform some law enforcement functions currently being covered by large sedans," he says. "They have all the proper lighting and safety features, and have zero fuel consumption. You can plug them into a normal outlet. They're quiet, and operate very well off-road. They also do well in areas trying to reduce emissions in order to maintain federal funding. And," Wynne adds, "there is certainly goodwill associated with these vehicles."
Melissa Brandao, national sales and marketing director for Zap Personal Transportation Technologies, points out that reducing greenhouse emissions is a key reason city fleets across the country are making it a policy to purchase more alternative fuel vehicles. "The scientific community is overwhelmingly warning about the effect of these emissions on global climate change. Sonoma County, California, has formed a countywide campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2010. Many other municipalities across the country are starting to adopt similar programs."
Taking a "new" ride
Unique, specialty vehicles are being incorporated into law enforcement fleets for all the above reasons. Here's a review of some ways agencies are using these vehicles.
- In Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, the police department relies on four Chariots PTVs — a three-wheeled, Personal Transportation Vehicle — to patrol bike and walking paths, park and recreation areas, parking lots, and even inside shopping malls (the vehicle can fit through a standard door width), says Chief Carmen Pettine.
- The Arlington County (Virginia) Sheriff's Office purchased two battery-operated Segway PTs — a two-wheeled Personal Transporter — last fall, and started using them this spring to serve civil processes in its downtown area, says Sheriff Beth Arthur.
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Drexel University Department of Public Safety counts hybrid patrol cars and SUVs, 25 bikes, three Segways, and four Chariots among its vehicle fleet, says Bernard Gollotti, senior associate vice president.
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, police use two Segways to patrol the downtown area as part of their community policing efforts, as well as for special events, says patrolman First Class, Jerome Armijo. He recalls how he once walked a 10-hour shift (even in the middle of summer). Now he covers the same area via battery power, is much less fatigued and able to respond to calls faster, he adds.
- The Oakland County (Michigan) Sheriff's Office relies on two Chariots to patrol the courthouse complex and provide security for special events, outdoor concerts and high school athletic events, says Capt. Chuck Snarey, who adds it plans to replace these with four new models in the near future.
The Chariots have taken over some of the functions once performed by patrol cars, says Snarey.
"They save a lot of gas, as opposed to driving a patrol car around in the parking lot all day long," he explains. "Plus, we have a large area we're responsible for and limited resources. We only had a few cars designated to patrol this and also several officers on foot [these are the ones now using the Chariots]. Since the Chariots allow for better coverage of the area, we were able to take the patrol cars and put them to other uses."
Pushing the benefits
Oakland County's experience is typical — agencies are finding these kinds of devices not only reduce measurable costs, such as fuel, but also help officers do their jobs more efficiently and faster — as Arthur can attest. The process servers that work Arlington's downtown area have to contend with heavy traffic and, subsequently, parking issues.
"Parking patrol cars can be a problem," she explains. "You have to park, walk, move the car again and struggle to find more parking. Now, officers transport the Segways to the area they're working, park the car in one spot and can serve the whole area without having to move the car. They can even take them inside the building. Officers love them. It speeds up the whole serving process."
There is also the better access these machines offer, says Pettine "They can go where larger vehicles, and even golf carts or ATVs, can't," he says. "They're especially valuable in emergencies in areas not easily accessible to vehicles. Officers can respond much faster on these than on foot."
And they don't get as tired, he adds, which offers decided advantages.
"We have a lot of shoplifting in the malls," Pettine adds. "We've had criminal apprehensions in malls. The shoplifter got fatigued from running and the Chariot driver was not fatigued at all."
And then there's the PR value — they're almost as good as being on a horse in terms of the attention they attract. They make officers much more visible and approachable, say those interviewed.
"It's a very non-threatening look. And it's like a magnet for kids," says Pettine, who adds that the Plymouth Township PD uses its Chariots as a PR tool, for example, riding in parades, escorting Santa and handing out candy at Halloween.
Gollotti agrees. "The Segway HTs broke down the barriers between our officers in vehicles and the community, taking our community policing initiatives to an entirely new level," he says.
Better yet they increase man-power without actually putting more officers on the beat. "We are learning more every day about how law enforcement is using these vehicles," says Jim Murphy, director of business development for American Chariot Company. "A lot of people tell us the Chariot is a force multiplier," he says. "They may have one Chariot and one officer, but it allows that officer to do the work of three. It allows you to get more out of your officers."
Other ways to move
Gasoline-powered vehicles, such as ATVs and personal watercraft (PWC), step in where patrol vehicles cannot and are essential components of many law enforcement fleets. Also, don't overlook the more unusual ones, such as the aforementioned armored device.
The decision to purchase these other types of "non-traditional vehicles" can be an easier one to make because the need may be far more apparent. If a department has many miles of beach area, extremely rugged terrain or waterways to patrol, and no other agency to provide the service, it becomes a simple decision. The need for an armored device will be apparent in the type of calls it handles and the support it provides to other nearby agencies. And as for EVs, primary considerations are a department's objectives — reducing fuel costs and emissions are the most common — and for what (non-patrol) purposes they can be used.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office loves the benefits its PWC bring to the department. Officers use PWC to patrol parts of the Colorado River as well as several lakes, says Corp. Dave Burgess. The sheriff's office has eight to 12 PWC from Honda, acquired through a dealer loan program.
"They're great for maneuvering in large groups of people and accessing areas boats can't go," says Burgess. In spite of the PWC's size, he is able to stow a rescue jacket, ropes, other water rescue equipment, and personal items and police gear on board.
Scooters are another option agencies shouldn't overlook, particularly with today's sky-rocketing gas prices. "Scooters reduce response times to emergency situations and crowd or traffic control duty," says Bill Peirce, president and CEO of Cobra Powersports. "Because scooters are not much larger than a standard bicycle, officers adapt quickly, parking is as easy as a bike, and transporting them to special events is simple."
Meanwhile, an ATV can perform much of what a pickup truck can do — for a lot less money, says Glen Hansen, communications manager for American Suzuki Motor Corp.
"Maintenance costs are reduced, storage costs are reduced, and these more nimble machines can get to places larger vehicles cannot," he continues. "Beach patrol, for example, can be much easier on ATVs and the machines have less impact on the environment than a full-sized pickup truck or SUV often used by beach patrol."
Full speed ahead
Maybe an agency is already thinking that adding two- or three-wheeled machines to its fleet is a great idea. Or, perhaps it believe they wouldn't benefit their agency at all. Before it decides one way or the other, it is critical to consider the following:
- Look at the services it's currently providing, says Murphy. Does the department provide event security? Does it patrol parking lots? If so, how many, how often, and how large are the lots? Does it patrol malls and other large enclosed spaces?
- How are these being serviced? By patrol car? On foot? And if on foot, how many officers are being used? Maybe the job is taking up four officers, when one of these machines would allow it to get done with just two, says Murphy.
- Does it have a community policing program, or is thinking about establishing one?
- Consider the area's weather patterns, suggests Peirce. Does it have at least six months a year where it could use an open-to-the-elements mode of transportation?
- What are the licensing requirements, if any?
- What are the objectives? Reduction of fuel costs? Becoming more approachable by the community? Getting greener? Reducing officer fatigue? Freeing up patrol vehicles for other uses?
In many cases an agency will find the benefits these specialty vehicles bring to the department make them worth the investment. And soon a department may join the ranks of the growing number of agencies using ATVs, EVs, UVs and one-person carriers to get officers where they want to go.
Pamela Mills-Senn is a freelance writer based in Long Beach, California.
ATVs, scooters and personal watercraft
If officers patrol miles of beach, a rugged terrain or extremely congested narrow city streets and waterways, adding ATVs, scooters and personal watercraft to a fleet can be a no-brainer. The following companies make such products for law enforcement use:
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It's possible for law enforcement agencies to obtain these vehicles at no cost via the AquaTrax Dealer Loan Program, says Mittleman. The program is administered through AquaTrax dealers who wish to participate in making units available to government agencies involved with safety, law enforcement and environmental monitoring. The loans are for one year. Eligible agencies can locate a local Honda AquaTrax dealer by visiting http://powersports.honda.com/watercraft/ and entering their ZIP code. Agencies also can contact dealers to see if they're participating in the program or are interested in doing so.
Honda makes a variety of ATVs. The FourTrax Foreman Rubicon ATV can handle the toughest jobs law enforcement can toss at it. Its features include a liquid-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder 499cc engine with an overhead valve design; a Hondamatic transmission with a continuously variable design that eliminates belts, is compact, quiet, rugged and maintenance free; shifting options where the vehicle can be used in fully automatic mode or users can shift between five preset ratios with pushbutton ease, via Honda's Electric Shift Program (ESP); TraxLok, which allows users to choose between two-wheel and four-wheel drive, and front disc brakes.
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The LT-Z400 is being used by some law enforcement agencies working in desert-like environments, and are finding the power and handling capabilities of this performance-oriented and "sport" ATV meets their needs, says Hansen. The LT-Z400's features include a 400cc four-stroke engine tuned for speed, a five-speed manual transmission, two-wheel drive, long-travel suspension, superior control and T-shaped seating to allow for comfort over the long haul.
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The company sells a range of scooters. Among the most popular are the TGB Key West, a 49cc model (there are four different versions of the 49cc scooters) and the TGB Laser R9, a 151cc model (there are three versions of 151cc scooters). Any of its scooters are appropriate for law enforcement use, says Peirce.
"The 49cc scooters come restricted to 30 mph because some states have favorable laws that allow a rider to ride a 49cc scooter that goes less than 30 mph without a motorcycle license," he explains. "However, these can be de-restricted for police use and the top speed will increase to 38 to 42 mph."
The 151cc models can hit speeds of 65 mph. Although in most states officers wouldn't need a motorcycle license to operate a 49cc scooter, all states require a license to operate a 151cc, says Peirce, who advises agencies look into licensing requirements before replacing bicycle patrols with scooters.
The scooters are quite fuel efficient. The 151cc gets as much as 85 miles per gallon (mpg) while the 49cc gets over 60 mpg. These savings, and the fact that the scooters are not much more costly or demanding to maintain than a bike, makes them very attractive budget-wise.
"An agency can purchase 12 49cc scooters from us for the price on one patrol car," says Peirce. "And with four times the fuel mileage, it makes it easy to see the benefit of adding several new vehicles to a fleet without spending more than one patrol car."
Personal transportation devices
Personal transportation devices are changing the way police officers "walk the beat." The following is a sampling of the PTVs available.
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The vehicle, which comes with several storage areas, will hold a total of 450 pounds, driver and gear. If desired, the company can put on a tow hitch, allowing users to pull a trailer and carry equipment, such as cones for example.
Depending upon the load, terrain and speed, the batteries will last for about 15 to 20 miles of use, says Jim Murphy, the company's director of business development. However, it is possible to go for longer hauls by using the company's quick-change battery system, which allows riders to almost immediately switch out batteries. Typically, users get 350 to 400 cycles out of a battery, so they will last anywhere from one to two years, Murphy points out. There's also an optional Battery Management System that attaches to the Chariot, which extends the battery lifespan by 300 percent and provides greater charge acceptance so the batteries recharge faster and accept the charge better.
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"This is designed to be an in-town car that would be ideal for all the short trips around town that are so expensive and polluting for gas vehicles," she says. "Currently, it is the only production electric vehicle in the world faster than 25 mph."
The ZAPPY 3 PRO offers law enforcement several advantages, such as the ability to approach a crime scene with little or no noise, lowered operating expenses, reduced use of standard police vehicles and reduced emissions, says Brandao. The same can be said for the ZAP EV, which has fewer moving parts compared to an internal combustion engine and therefore requires far less maintenance and upkeep.
Personal armored protection
From the armored division of
"The Mobile Armored Device provides the protection and counter-fire capability needed in hostile firefight and hostage situations," Taylor explains. "Safety, mobility and tactical visibility are strengths of the MAD."
The vehicle travels at walking-pace speed and operates on two, 24-volt electric motors (they will remain charged for 2.5 hours). The motors drive the two front wheels independently, Taylor says One drives forward, the other in reverse, which allows the operator to spin the vehicle in a circle, ideal for use in areas such as malls, shopping centers, office buildings and schools/universities. It's protected with NIJ Level III armor and has gun ports on all sides.
Utility vehicle
Some configurations include:
- First Responder Series, for fire and rescue.
- Rapid Responder Series, for crowd/traffic control, communication, power generation, water purification.
- Force Protection Series, for patrol, force-on-target, re-supply.
Jamison explains the company takes a generic UV and customizes it through engineered adjustments and retrofits that provide application-specific solutions. For example, it will replace the dump bed with a quick change-out pallet system capable of carrying 1,300-pound loads such as armor, ammo or firefighting foam systems.
"We harden, duplicate or add subsystem as required to provide additional functionality and survivability," Jamison says, ticking off some modifications such as additional fuel tanks, run-flat beaded tires, beefed up suspension, AC converter, weapon clips, etc. At the same time, it works with customers to ensure proper compliance (such as speed, range, load stability, color, etc.) to end-user requirements.
"In general, utility vehicles, with their load, range and traction capabilities, have proven themselves extremely valuable in getting into places typical law enforcement vehicles cannot," says Jamison. "Couple that to any one of NAIT's responder, provider and protection packages, and you have a product that cover's almost any end-user's needs and demands at a huge value-to-cost ratio."
