Vehicle Alternative Stands Out From the Crowd

Although traditional police cruisers, motorcycles and bicycles all have their places in campus law enforcement, more and more hospitals and universities are looking at other ways to transport their officers. The Carolinas HealthCare System and University of Maryland are just two institutions that have adopted a different approach that has increased the productivity of their police and security personnel.

The response of the university faculty and students to the vehicles has been very positive. “We have 29 bikes and six motorcycles in our police fleet, so the students see the Segways as just another tool for us,” says Brandt. “The big difference is that when you’re on a Segway, all eyes turn to you and you’re very visible and approachable. This is a great bene
fit to our officers and police aides.”

Officers Are More Approachable at Carolinas HealthCare
After Carolinas HealthCare System completed its one-week trial and evaluation, the security department purchased four Segway PTs and issued them to the larger acute care facilities. Two of the units went to the largest campus — Carolinas Medical Center — and one was deployed at each of two smaller campuses — Mercy and University. In the spring of 2007, Warren purchased a fifth unit, which will be used at the Carolinas Medical Center in Pineville, N.C. All five units are i2 Police models that include a full complement of police accessories.

Having had a few months to fully gauge the effectiveness of the units, Warren is very positive about the Segway’s fit in the healthcare campus environment.

“We have received quite a few comments from staff members, and they were very impressed with it,” says Warren. “It really makes the officers a lot more approachable and at the same time puts us on the cutting edge of security technology. Initially the officers were a little reticent about using the Segway PT, but once they realized just how intuitive it was to ride they warmed up to it. They realized how much more productive they could be, and now we can’t get them off of them. There’s a little competitiveness about who gets to use the Segway PTs each day.”

Carolinas Medical Center recently started using the Segways to patrol the interior of the medical office building after-hours on a trial basis. The department uses an electronically monitored patrol system the officers can easily access right off the Segways, and they do not even have to dismount. The officers can pull up to their station, check in and continue on their patrol. This may make it possible for Warren’s security officers to complete more patrol rounds on each shift without adding more personnel.


Chip MacDonald is director of the police/security sector for Segway Inc. He can be reached at (603) 222-6031 or chipmacdonald@segway.com.

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