Philly police to begin Segway patrols, please take them seriously

If you hang out on Main Street in Manayunk, you should begin seeing the Segway police patrols.
Officers on South Street, in University City, Center City and Southwest Philadelphia also begin using the new toys this week.
Try not to cringe at how ridiculous the two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered vehicles may seem, because its role in law enforcement has been growing for years and doesn’t appear it will stop. More than 1,000 municipalities are using them for patrolling, according to the company.
Now, after a 10-day trial in April 2008, the Philadelphia Police Department is joining in.
The department announced yesterday that it received a donation of more than $60,000 toward the purchase of ten Segway PTs, according to a press release [PDF]. The funds came from the Philadelphia Police Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds to purchase technology and other police equipment that are deemed outside the city’s budget. Yes, our police department takes charity.
“Segways are an extension of foot patrol, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said in the release. They are another valuable tool for our officers in helping to make Philly safer, particularly in commercial corridors. Segways are highly visible, cover a lot of ground quickly, and put our officers out there interacting with the community every day.
Read the company’s pitch to police departments.

What Gob from Arrested Development didn’t tell you is that police rave about Segway patrols, which put cops on the street to interact like they do on walking beats but also give them an edge in a chase and can increase their coverage area, as the Inquirer reported.
Read about their patrol-specific limitations here. The company boasts their green aptitude, too.
“Everyone has a vested interest in making Philadelphia the safest city possible,” Robert Ciaruffoli, current president of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, said in the release. “Our priority is to mobilize the business and professional communities to join with the PPD in bringing this goal to fruition.”
If you want your own Segway adventure, don’t rob a cop, just take a tour on one around the Art Museum.