LAPD to Patrol Skid Row on Electric Scooters

[equinox137]

LAPD to Patrol Skid Row on Electric Scooters
Several Los Angeles police officers will soon patrol downtown's Skid Row on three-wheeled electric scooters, Police Chief William Bratton announced Thursday.

The T-3 Mobility runs on electricity, has a top speed of 25 mph and provides a smooth, quiet ride for officers.

The Los Angeles Police Department purchased two of the scooters for $8,500 apiece with funds from the LAPD's vehicle acquisition budget, Bratton said.

"We're still taking a look at it, but I think you'll find it will become a part of the fleet," Bratton said, adding that the scooters provide a more stable and safer ride than the two-wheeled Segways.

Red and blue lights are mounted on the scooter, which will be used to enhance officer foot and bicycle patrols, according to police Sgt. Dan Gomez.

Officers have already tested the scooter at the Academy Awards ceremony, the Los Angeles Marathon, the Kingdom Day Parade and at Los Angeles International Airport.

"This is good for anywhere you would have a large amount of people and you want the officers to he highly visible, give them a stable platform to operate their duties and yet still be approachable by the community," Gomez said. "This seems to fit the need."

Is it just me, or is this shoving more of that community policing crap down the throat of the average street cop???

[Stewie]

Is it just me, or is this shoving more of that community policing crap down the throat of the average street cop???

I don't see what is wrong with them, maybe a bit silly lookin...

[Taylor1430]

Our agency currently uses a couple of Segway's and they are great for getting through our crowded downtown city area...much like our bike patrol is more effective on bikes then us in cars in these areas. The officers on Segway's seem to like them and the people seem to like them.

[Matto]

Bicycles seem a lot cheaper to me.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Is it just me, or is this shoving more of that community policing crap down the throat of the average street cop???

+1

Skid row is for one thing and one thing only. Filling a backseat with felons. No backseat to fill on a Segway. Purpose defeated.

EDJ

[Five-0fromSoCal]

LASD Deps have them for the subways. They're never used. They used them long enough to take pictures for the paper.

[jrhodes]

saw a commerical on spike i think the other day where two cops on a segway were chasing a man on an electric scooter, it was hilarious. i hope i never have to ride one of those silly things around on patrol.

[equinox137]

+1

Skid row is for one thing and one thing only. Filling a backseat with felons. No backseat to fill on a Segway. Purpose defeated.

EDJ

That's exactly what I was getting at.

[Tim Dees]

The Segways and scooters have their place, although I'm not sure that Skid Row is it. Segways were used at BWI airport by the MTA cops, and they liked them.

[SRT936]

The scooters are fine for airports or malls, but not in a high crime area.

How long until one is jacked or tagged by some local "honor student"? I'm guessing not long at all....

[MykesCrazy]

HAHAHA!!!

We have a really nice outdoor mall out here and the Sheriff Deputies ride those two wheeled scooters like you would see in Reno 911!! Those are Hilarious!!

These are a little "Cooler" I guess... I like how they say that it will give them a better view. But almost 9k? Is it worth it?

[jrhodes]

i'd take a bike or walking over a scooter any day, unless i was still in 4th grade.

[Kieth M.]

What's the old line about riding a scooter/Vespa? It's like "bumping fuzzies" with an "overweight woman." Sure, it may be fun, but you wouldn't want your friends to know you did it!

[DoTheNumbers]

I'll keep my Mtn. Bike. Last year my Chief mentioned the idea of a Segway to me and I begged him not to get them. An officer would look like an idiot on the electric rides. Besides, I enjoy the physical side of Bike Patrol.

DTN

[Irishluck31]

We are quickly becoming the laziest culture in the World.