UCPD’s balancing act

Police buy Segways in time of fiscal crisis

By Errol Tremolada
From the March 2004 Print Edition

It is no secret in Berkeley that the University is in the midst of a severe budget crisis. Students everywhere are noticing the effects, from reduced library hours to a smaller selection of classes in some departments. There is discussion of cutting enrollment, more classes, or dramatically increasing the student to teacher ratio.

In the midst of all this, the University of California Police Department here in Berkeley recently spent more than 20,000 dollars on the techno-geek’s latest toys – Segway scooters.

“[The Segways] are great tools for us to use. Officers on Segways will be less tired than bike officers or officers patrolling on foot,” said UCPD Lieutenant Sara Ferrandini.

Certainly, if the Segways are the only way to dramatically improve safety and security on the Berkeley campus, then there is no question about their necessity. But if there is a viable alternative that will accomplish the same goal, at a much cheaper price, then the University is simply wasting money in the center of a severe budget crisis.

Described on the official website as “a self-balancing, personal transportation device,” these two wheeled scooters can reach a top speed of about twelve and a half miles per hour. UC Berkeley bought four Segways to be distributed to the UCPD and the Public Safety Department. The four units, two Segway E’s and two Segway I’s, cost between $4,999 and $5,400 each. The E-Series differs from the I-Series in that the former boasts cargo space and an electronic kickstand.

They were purchased in September 2003 to replace one of the UCPD police cars, but it hardly seems that a Segway and a car can serve the same function. And if that never meant to be the case, there is still an old-fashioned alternative that the University should have explored before splurging on the futuristic Segways – bicycles.

“We have plenty of bikes. There are twelve within the UCPD right now,” Ferrandini said when asked why bicycles were not purchased instead of the Segways.

Since bikes and Segways serve largely the same purpose, if there are enough bikes for the police currently on campus, then why buy them in the first place?

The University has long since stated that a major benefit will be better crowd control. “The Segways are mainly going to be used for special events where there will be big crowds. They give the officer an extra eight inches which can help them see above the crowds,” Lieutenant Ferrandini said.

While I certainly agree that effectively controlling unruly protesters is a wonderful goal, Segways simply are unable to serve this purpose. Their size, speed, and turning capabilities make them useless anywhere but a relatively quiet and empty pathway.

To make matters worse, the UCPD is not even fully utilizing its new toys. “As of now, the Segways are going out about four times a week. Only trained officers are allowed to take them out,” Ferrandini said. She elaborated that training consists of a video viewing and a few hours of hands-on training. The training is only required for officers who wish to ride the Segways.

Such optional and limited usage simply does not justify their expense, even in the absence of a major budget crisis. And if they are as effective as the UCPD says they are, should not every officer be trained to ride one, especially since the training is not complex or time consuming?

Some students have begun to express anger that the University is spending money on such gadgets while ignoring other, more important uses.

“This is a bad distribution of money,” said freshman Ken Sidelnikov. “They should give some of it to departments that affect my education. I take chemistry classes and I have to pay an extra $50-60 just for lab supplies. They could lower those prices or the prices of books. Maybe even give some money to the GSI’s so that they stay in the classrooms and off the picket lines.”

The UCPD is an essential part of campus. The police officers keep campus and the surrounding areas safe for students and community residents. They should be commended for their efforts, and if there is a tool that is necessary for them to do their job, it should be provided. However, the Segways are not a necessary tool at all, given their drawbacks and the availability of lower cost alternatives. In times of budget wealth, the Segways would be a questionable purchase. In the current budget crisis, with academics threatened, the Segways were not a wise use of University or UCPD resources. It’s time for the University to show the fiscal restraint needed to protect both academics and the needs of the police.

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