Gloversville officers test Segways
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
GLOVERSVILLE - The Police Department may be getting a fast, quiet, energy-efficient vehicle to help it patrol the city.
No, it's not a hybrid.
Police officers are training with two Segway personal transporters that were loaned to the departments as test models earlier this week.
Mayor Tim Hughes said depending on what officers think about the vehicles, he could support their inclusion in the 2009 proposed budget for the department.
"We need to do a full evaluation first," he said. "[The officers] have to determine they are worth [the cost]."
According to the company Web site, the first Segway PT was manufactured in 2002. The technology in the device allows the driver standing on the platform of the two-wheel transportation unit to control its movement and speed by the way he leans his body.
Police Capt. Jim Lorenzoni said the officers who have taken the transporters out on patrol have been very impressed by how fast, agile and quiet they are.
"They are very unique," he said. "[The transporter] puts the officer up about 8 inches higher compared to being on foot patrol."
The added height makes it easier for the officer to see and be seen, Lorenzoni said.
According to the company Web site, more than 600 police departments and security agencies use Segway personal transporters to patrol a number of different areas.
Joe Bethel, the police chief in Glens Falls, said his department also borrowed two of the units for about a week from the region's Segway dealer, Northeast Marine Segway in Coeymans.
His department would like to use them to patrol that city's business district. Specifically, a parking garage is being constructed in the city that will need to be patrolled. On foot that could be difficult for the officers to do. Riding one of the Segways would make it a lot easier, Bethel said.
Across the state, crime in small cities seems to be going up, he said, so police departments need new technology to help them fight back.
While there are different transporters available, all of them have a top speed of about 12 mph. A Segway can travel about 25 miles before its electric engine needs to be recharged.
Lights, sirens and a GPS unit are just some of the accessories that can be added to the vehicle. Different models are designed to travel over rougher surfaces such as dirt, gravel or sand.
The president of the regions Segway distributor, Carl Allen, said the vehicles generally have a tough time with winter conditions that include snow and ice. However, there are companies that make miniature snow plows that attach to Segways, he said.
The price for the "police model" Segway is just under $6,000.
According to the company Web site, its transporter is classified as a special purpose vehicle on the approved equipment list for a federal Homeland Security grant.
Rodney Minor covers Gloversville news. He can be reached by e-mail at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
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morningstar
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07-21-08 9:38 PM
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People around here can be pretty resistant to change, as you can see.
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morningstar
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07-21-08 9:37 PM
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Thank you, Dublin. My thoughts exactly.
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dublinbret
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07-21-08 11:04 AM
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Wow, knew G'ville was behind the times, but this is ridiculous. Segways are being used for everything from police patrols to roving customer service at large shopping centers (Miracle Mile, Las Vegas). Quiet, efficient and take up a lot less space than an automobile. Very effective in most cases. Welcome to 2008. BTW- could you people PLEASE purchase dictionaries (or use spellcheck) BEFORE you hit the "Post Comment" button? Thank you.
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LoyalSocialist
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07-21-08 9:50 AM
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I saw one of the officers the other day on one of these and I couldn't help but laugh. Its better than them driving around wasting gas with their cars, but man, cant they just walk when they're doing beat?
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kristenk1980
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07-20-08 10:33 PM
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they talk on cell phones while driving and don't wear a seatbelt either and your saying they wouldn't ride these things down the rail trail you are funny.An electric motor is not a motorized vehicle anyways but keep your posts coming cause your funny
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girleah
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07-20-08 7:43 AM
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Adirondackchick, that was just ridiculous. Are you saying the police and/or an ambulance shouldn't break the law by speeding either if you are a victim of a crime or injured?
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Ernie9
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07-20-08 12:25 AM
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***************
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AdirondackChick
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07-19-08 9:07 PM
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And here I thought all along the signs posted that say no motorized vehicles actually meant what they said. Since the Segways have motor, although they are powered by batteries, they are still motors, wouldn't this mean a police officer on the railtrail using one of these would be breaking the law? Just some food for thought...
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kristenk1980
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07-19-08 8:44 PM
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AdirondackChick you can ride the segway down the rail trail to
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Silent
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07-19-08 8:19 PM
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The officer was thin, - Good, wait about six months - (acualy I ment that as a joke (about the plump officers)) anyhow, as for a segway, I have myself been on one, an older modle. They are very quiet, and quick. They can be moved around easy - Like I said a few of these instead of a patrol car buning fuel - I don't think would be a waist of our tax dollars - I know they are not for year round, but lets face it, how many crowds are out in the winter - So, let them Test, and if they work, Add them to the force, and for us Tax payers, lets hope there savind us on the fule cost.
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morningstar
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07-19-08 6:50 PM
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I just thought I'd share my experience. If I only read the article, I'd find it laughable. they do look silly, but it's not looks that are important I guess. I've had only positive experiences with the GPD and hope they have the best interest of the community at heart.
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AdirondackChick
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07-19-08 6:27 PM
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Sorry, looked like a baseball hat to me. Now that I have enlarged the pic, I will admit I was wrong. However, I still think this is a crazy idea. Bicycles are much cheaper, a great form of exercise, and can be taken on the rail trail.
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Ernie9
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07-19-08 5:48 PM
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Thank you morningstar for a reasonable and intelligent post. I also am not sure about them, I have only seen officers ride them and they look like a good idea. Your post is one of the very few that I feel take the right point of view. You don't have to like them or hate them or think that the officers should wear a beanie with a propeller on top. Waiting for the facts to be in is all that is necessary at this point. Most of you should try to emulate morningstar instead of shooting your mouths off with no information.
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morningstar
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07-19-08 5:36 PM
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I spoke with a police officer today who was on a segway. Not only was he very thin, but polite as well. He told me that it was borrowed to see how they work. He seemed to like how easily it maneuvered. I have to say, it was extremely quiet- even more than a person walking or riding a bike. This might be good for the element of surprise when necessary. I am envisioning a group of unruly teens being shocked by the sudden stealth appearance of a police officer. I'm not sure I'm sold on the idea myself, but figure I'll let the experts- the police officers who would use them to decide if they are useful here. Besides, no money has been spent yet and wouldn't be until '09.
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Ernie9
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07-19-08 5:14 PM
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Did you people actually READ the article before spouting off all the negative.The segways are being tried out, not bought yet. The money is available from a federal grant, not local tax money. If we don't get it some other city will. As far as Mayor Hughes is concerned, this was not his idea. All he said was "depending what the OFFICERS thought, he would support getting them. I am NOT a supporter of anything here except the police and people they are trying to protect, you and I. Maybe MrRoboto is not the only one that should stop being a jerk, EasyEJ and nyshore.
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BigPunDaddy
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07-19-08 4:15 PM
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tax dollars hard at work
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jov872
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07-19-08 3:46 PM
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The Gazette had this article earlier this week and it said that a grant is available from Homeland Security for the Segways. I think they would be good for the Rail Trail...quiet and quick. Also , Adirondack Chick, if you look in the picture Officer Enders IS wearing a helmet, I don't know why you think this would lead children to believe helmets are a bad idea.
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SNOWGRINCH
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07-19-08 3:18 PM
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Segways work well in DC and might be worth a try in a city the size of Gloversville. I think they are much more practical than a bike patrol.
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nyshore
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07-19-08 3:08 PM
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Hey guys quit picking on Ernie Hughes.
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nyshore
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07-19-08 3:06 PM
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How about a bicycle? I don't think they would cost $6000 that the city cant afford anyway. Just another case of Timmy being Timmy.
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EasyEJ
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07-19-08 2:35 PM
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I think you may have hit a nerve MrRoboto...seems that Ernie9 may be a strong supporter of Timmy's regime!!
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Ernie9
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07-19-08 2:14 PM
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I see some positive comments, but mostly derogatory ones. Most of you people who had negative posts have not a clue what you are talking about. The head dolt is MrRoboto. Your negative comments are not even serious. You are a joke. The mayor had nothing to do with the segways. Police Officers contacted the company to get the test models here. This is just TEST. If they prove to be effective them they will be considered. The segway is not a joke. They are used in many places successfully. Everyone wants a better police presence, but no matter what the police do to accomplish that end, they are ridiculed. I see the same names every day on here making negative comments and ridiculing everything that is reported on. Try making positive suggestions MrRoboto and quit being such a jerk.
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Ernie9
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07-19-08 2:13 PM
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I see some positive comments, but mostly derogatory ones. Most of you people who had negative posts have not a clue what you are talking about. The head dolt is MrRoboto. Your negative comments are not even serious. You are a joke. The mayor had nothing to do with the segways. Police Officers contacted the company to get the test models here. This is just TEST. If they prove to be effective them they will be considered. The segway is not a joke. They are used in many places successfully. Everyone wants a better police presence, but no matter what the police do to accomplish that end, they are ridiculed. I see the same names every day on here making negative comments and ridiculing everything that is reported on. Try making positive suggestions MrRoboto and quit being such a jerk.
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Patriot1
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07-19-08 1:14 PM
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At first analysis, this idea seems to have one serious fault. If used to patrol dicey areas at night, a relatively slow-moving means of transportation which does not protect the officer leaves him very vulnerable to target practice by any perp.
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AdirondackChick
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07-19-08 12:58 PM
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Yes I see Hughes is still not looking out for the best interest of his city. First wasting money on scooters and then showing children it is ok to ride these, based on the picture in the paper, without a helmet. If you think $6000 is high, just wait for the first lawsuit after an officer is injured and has a life long brain injury Gloversville people will end up paying for.
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