Campus Police with new Segway for increased patrol
By: Kavahn Mansouri
Editor In Chief
Through the quad, parking lots and back alleys of Meramec, Campus Police are no longer restricted by patrol car size. A new sheriff is in town in the form of a Campus Police Segway.
Campus Police can be seen rolling around Meramec on the new Segway, made available by the district to each of the STLCC campuses. The Segway is one of the steps being taken in the “green initiative” to strengthen the movement for a healthier campus. The Segway also provides a cost efficient way of patrolling the campus by police.
Campus Police Officer Ed Eucinsci said the Segway is a step in the right direction to making Meramec a “greener” campus.
“It’s part of our green initiative and it’s very good for our environment,” Eucinsci said. “I think it’s another asset we have to patrol our campuses and make it a safe environment.”
Campus Police Chief Paul Banta added the Segway will cut down on gasoline used by the campus squad cars. Banta said the district plans to continue the “green initiative” by providing electric and hybrid patrol cars.
“We will use less gasoline and it will help with the budget,” Banta said. “It makes a greener campus. They’re all moves in the direction of being greener.”
The Segway’s accessibility provides officers a quicker way to navigate the campus; improving response times to disturbances according to Banta.
“You can get the cars in the quad but it’s a lot quicker with the Segway,” Banta said. “It’s going to improve our reaction time.”
Banta said the Segway provides officers with an easier way to do their jobs.
“On nights it will make it more speedy to check doors and get inside buildings,” Banta said. “We didn’t ask for them but they do have a use. It’s an alternative method of getting around campus without burning gasoline.”
Eucinsci said the Segway allows officers to respond to areas quickly that patrol cars cannot reach.
“Segway has a lot of good points to it; it’s a really effective way to move around campus,” Eucinsci said. “I can get in places the automobile cannot and it helps us to patrol walkways and other areas that are not accessible by patrol car.”
Eucinsci said he feels the presence on campus is heightened while patrolling on the Segway.
“It’s a very noticeable presence, especially when you’re two feet above everyone,” Eucinsci said.
Banta said while the Segway will improve the response time and presence of officers, it will also allow officers to reach out to students while patrolling.
“We’re all about trying to get to know the students,” Banta said. “It’s a great public relations tool because people will stop the officers and ask them ‘how do you like the Segway?’”
Eucinsci said students often approach him while he is patrolling the Segway.
“It’s very visible. People actually want to come up and talk to you, ask you questions. Although the most frequent question is ‘can I ride it?’” Eucinsci said.
Banta said he is concerned about parking lot safety for officers when using the Segway.
“The only thing I’m concerned about is the parking lots. People back out of their spots and don’t look,” Banta said. “If you can’t see a car, how are you going to see a guy on a Segway.”
