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York City Police receive new three-wheeler for patrolling
Jan 24, 2013 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
No, that's not Shaquille O'Neal on patrol with a sidearm in downtown York.
But officer Mike Davis, who stands 6-foot-5-inches tall, who said that's the effect when he's standing on the York City Police Department's new T3 Patroller unit.
"It's like being Shaq up there," he said. "You get a good view."
In fact, increased visibility is one of several benefits for the department from the scooter-like vehicle, according to Chief Wes Kahley. The T3 also allows officers to respond faster and cover more ground than they could on foot, the chief said.
"These are great tools that allow us to multiply our force downtown," he said. "And it builds relationships when people stop to ask about it."
The T3 was a gift to the city from PeoplesBank. The unit is described as a three-wheeled electric standup vehicle, and comes complete with lights and a siren.
The bank's director of marketing, Nathan Eifert, said at an outdoor press conference at city hall on Thursday that after donating several Segway vehicles, PeoplesBank wanted to continue to aid local police.
"We want to do things to help, to give back to police," he said. "They're our hometown heroes."
Police officials gave a demonstration of the T3 outside city hall and discussed its advantages. The new unit moves faster than the department's three Segways, with a top speed in the city of 15 mph. It includes photo and video capability as well as GPS, important investigating tools, police said.
Kahley said several officers are trained to operate the department's scooter-style units. But as snowflakes drifted down on a frigid winter day, those officers said the units won't be brought out again until it's warmer.
"When you start going fast," Davis said, perched atop the T3' s 9-inch standing platform, "it gets a little cold up here."
___ (c)2013 York Daily Record (York, Pa.) Visit York Daily Record (York, Pa.)
at www.ydr.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
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