There is a lot more involved in the selection of a police vehicle than its ability to move from point A to point B. And that doesn’t just refer to the extra needs—on-board computing, and lights and sirens, for example—that come with the territory of official law enforcement vehicles.

The right patrol vehicle can help agencies better manage resources and do their work more effectively. But that’s still not the end to the benefits. Some vehicles provide extra horsepower in one unlikely, but increasingly important, area public relations.

Recent high-profile national news stories have refocused attention on the ways that law enforcement professionals and departments interact with local citizens. Through community policing is not a new concept and can and does occur in a number of different ways, the public may be exerting more pressure than ever for concrete efforts in this area.

One way to foster and demonstrate strong connections between the people who serve and the people being protected is through the vehicles police officers use on a day-to-day basis. Though, in many cases, there is no substitute for a standard cruiser or van, there are instances where alternatives can help law enforcement better carry out different functions, all while making officers more accessible and approachable without sacrificing certain tools critical to maintaining or restoring public safety.

Modern-Day Horses

An array of tactical vehicles are available that can accomplish this task. Generally speaking, motorcycles, scooters, and other smaller vehicles that leave officers open and more visible to the public can help create better interactions.

“These vehicles are like a modern-day horse,” said Michael Babich, manager of corporate sales and dealer franchising for Piaggio Group Americas in New York. “These vehicles are more transparent. You can see the officer. It is a lot easier for someone to walk up to you, and that helps build relationships in the community. Those agencies that really have an emphasis on community relations can use that to their advantage.”¹

Piaggio Group manufactures scooters and motorcycles with wide-ranging law enforcement applications. Babich admits that scooters are not often viewed as befitting of an authority figure, but newer designs have made scooters more physically substantial.

For instance, Piaggio’s BV 350 model has a 350 cubic centimeter engine that tops out at speeds of nearly 90 miles per hour. It weighs 390 pounds and has a 16-inch front wheel. So the scooter is solid enough for police use and small enough to maneuver through confined spaces.

This makes it an ideal vehicle for tasks like parking enforcement and crowd control. According to Babich, the New York; New Brunswick, New Jersey; and New Orleans, Louisiana, police departments, among others, are using the BV 350 for these kinds of purposes. College campuses such as Middle Tennessee State also are using the scooter, which fits in a crowded street or on a wooded trail area. “We’re not putting officers on mopeds here,” Babich said. “These bikes have a great presence about them. It’s a substantial bike … People see an officer on a scooter and it works as a goodwill tool. It’s less intimidating to people.”²

There are also tactical advantages to such vehicles. In October 2014, Zero Motorcycles, a California-based manufacturer, released the Zero FXP, a motorcycle specifically outfitted for police use. Like all of Zero Motorcycles’ models, the Zero FXP is completely electric. From a strategic standpoint, an electric motor can be a big advantage.

“The number one compliment we get is how quiet the bike is,” said Kevin Hartman, sales director for the North American fleet at Zero Motorcycles. “At low speeds, there’s a slight whirring sound, but the noise goes down as you gain speed, and when it’s not moving, it’s 100 percent silent. It gives you the ability to approach unannounced.”³

Not only does it allow for a stealthier approach when needed, an electric motor also minimizes unwelcome noise in quieter spaces like public parks. The Los Angeles, California, Police Department, one of 40 agencies using the Zero FXP, patrols equestrian trails with the electric bike, Hartman said. “They are great for any trail or park, really anywhere where a quiet vehicle is going to help keep the disruption to a minimum for people who are using a facility properly,” Hartman said.⁴

That is just one way a Zero FXP can help community relations. Their quiet electric motor—which can be recharged at any standard outlet and can travel about 70 miles in city driving on a single charge—can pique the interest of citizens, who are often impressed by the technology and its demonstration of an agency’s commitment to good resource management.

“Another big compliment we get is the PR value,” Hartman said. “There is no heat and no exhaust from the bike. People approach the officers and want to learn about the bikes and how the agency is using them.”⁵

Another increasingly common vehicle used in many agencies is the Segway. Though the classic Segway is a two-wheeled machine operated by a single standing officer, the company last June released the SE-3 Patroller, a three-wheeled version of the Segway built specifically for police use. “It’s similar to an officer on horseback, except there’s no feeding or cleaning up required,” said Gerald White, director of patroller sales for Segway, Inc., which is based in New Hampshire. “It’s a more substantial vehicle than our two-wheeled vehicles.”⁶

Though more expensive than a traditional Segway—about $11,995 for the SE-3, compared with $7,499 for the two-wheeled Segway base model—it does provide greater stability and power while keeping the vehicle’s famous flexibility largely intact.

“You can drive in the snow with it. You can drive from grass right onto a smooth surface,” White said. “The SE-3 has independent rear-wheel drive. You can make controlled turns and you can’t tip the vehicle over.”⁷

White also noted that the SE-3 also keeps another key characteristic of the Segway intact: its benefits for community relations. “The term ‘community policing’ is overused, but it makes sense here. You’re closer to the people,” White said. “You’re a more friendly presence. You can move through crowds more easily. But it’s still a presence; you’re still elevated above the crowd, and they can see you.”⁸

Bicycles are another common vehicle used, in part, to help advance community relations. PoliceBikeStore.com, a national website, offers a full range of products and equipment for bicycle patrol officers.

Return on Investment

Less traditional patrol vehicles can also help budget-constrained agencies better manage financial resources.

Hartman of Zero Motorcycles says the price of the Zero FXP is comparable to top-of-the-line gas-powered bikes. However, the real savings come into play in the almost negligible cost of operating an electric vehicle. With no fuel costs and much lower maintenance needs, Hartman said riding a Zero FXP costs just a penny per mile. “The drive train requires no maintenance. There’s no clutch, no shifting, no oil changes,” Hartman pointed out. “It costs a little more than a standard bike, but with the fuel and maintenance savings, you can make that up in four or five years.”⁹

Zero Motorcycles also are built to last and supported by the manufacturer, with each vehicle including a five-year warranty and a battery pack rated to 300,000 miles, Hartman said.

The Piaggio BV 350 scooter, which can be equipped with typical law enforcement necessities like lights and sirens, begins at $5,899 individually. Fleet pricing also is available, Babich said. All in all, Babich estimated that a BV 350 can save agencies up to $50,000 per vehicle, when factoring in maintenance and fuel costs over the life of the scooter. “You save money in the budget and use that savings for other things,” Babich said. “Forward-thinking police chiefs really like it.”¹⁰

There are other kinds of tactical vehicles, of course, and while some may require a substantial initial outlay, many can save money, time, and human resources over the long term. That’s the case with the Air Bear Tactical Aircraft, a fixed-wing plane designed and used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Sold by a California company of the same name, the Air Bear offers a cost-effective alternative to helicopters, according to John Nielsen, a career police pilot and Air Bear’s vice president of business development and airborne law enforcement. Unmanned vehicles such as drones are gaining popularity as a low-cost substitute for manned flight, but may not be as efficient or effective as some users think.

“With an unmanned vehicle, you’re operating from a remote station. That’s like conducting a search through a straw,” Nielsen said. “The reality is that you don’t need vertical lift to do ISR… Flying a drone involves 8 to 12 men, with the launch and recovery teams factored in.”¹¹

The Air Bear can also be mobilized in minutes to respond to pressing ISR needs, Nielsen said. One key financial hurdle to using fixed-wing aircraft—training—is alleviated through the support services provided by Air Bear. “We not only supply the aircraft, but we supply mission equipment and integrated support. We’re consulting on operations and training,” said Gary Bushouse, business development manager for Air Bear. “It usually takes about two years to train a pilot. But we can cut that down to two weeks. Factories don’t offer that kind of assistance with tactical training.”¹²

From helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to motorcycles (electric or gas-powered) to scooters and Segways, today’s law enforcement officers have a number of patrol vehicles to select from—including standard patrol cars and vans. There are many factors departments have to consider when selecting the right vehicles for their fleet, and it seems that vehicles’ ability to aid community relations might be a good addition to that list. ♦

Notes:
¹Michael Babich (manager, corporate sales and dealer franchising, Piaggio Group Americas), telephone interview, December 3, 2014.
²Ibid.
³Kevin Hartman (sales director, North American fleet, Zero Motorcycles), telephone interview, November 20, 2014.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Ibid.
⁶Gerald White (director, patroller sales, Segway, Inc.), telephone interview, November 20, 2014.
⁷Ibid.
⁸Ibid.
⁹Hartman, telephone interview, November 20, 2014.
¹⁰Babich, telephone interview, December 3, 2014.
¹¹John Nielsen (vice president, business development and airborne law enforcement, Air Bear), telephone interview, November 24, 2014.
¹²Gary Bushouse (business development manager, Air Bear), telephone interview, November 24, 2014.

Please cite as:

Scott Harris, “Patrol Vehicles: Moving People in Many Ways,” Product Feature, The Police Chief 82 (January 2015): 40–41.

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