The campus police department’s futuristic new vehicle is turning heads and making foot patrols more efficient.

The campus police have been testing the practical use of Segways in daily police work and crowd control at special events for the past three months.

A Segway is a self-balancing, electric-powered personal transportation device designed to maneuver like a pedestrian. A Segway weighs about 95 pounds, can travel up to 12 mph and pull as much as 4,000 pounds. The cost of one Segway is about $5,000.

The Segway’s design is a mix between a scooter and a skateboard. It’s about 4 1/2 feet tall with a platform between two 12-inch tires. The boomerang handlebars control which direction the Segway rolls. The Segway’s speed changes depending on how far the rider tilts forward or backward.

Campus Police Chief Robert Deane became interested in the Segway at a convention in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Assistant Shift Commander Rafael Casas said.

Deane spoke to the Segway dealer in Nashville and got one on a loaner plan, which allows the department to test the vehicle, Casas said.

Every officer who rides the Segway has to take a survey about the vehicle’s practicality and convenience, Patrol Captain Kerry Hatchett said. The survey also asks how people reacted to the officer on the Segway.

The results from those surveys will be taken into consideration when deciding whether the police department will purchase a Segway, Hatchett said.

The department would buy at least two Segways, especially for officers patrolling at night, he said.

“I love it; it makes getting around campus so much easier,” Hatchett said.

Shelbyville freshman Elizabeth Lauer said she thought Segways were too expensive, and bikes would be a better option.

“Aren’t cops supposed to be in good shape?” Lauer said. “And Schwinn bikes are much cheaper, so it makes more sense to me they ride a bike.”

Casas said patrol officers can cover more ground, maneuver through crowds easier and see over more people when using a Segway.

Segways also allow officers to be more mobile during special events when a car isn’t practical in a large crowd, he said.

Casas said police in Houston use Segways for city patrol and during sporting events.

The Segway is designed to prevent someone from leaning too far forward or back and falling off, and it has an automatic shut off if an officer were to suddenly get off the Segway, Hatchett said.

It also can only be started with a magnetic key that is made specifically for a Segway, Casas said.

“And someone dragging this behind them would be more than just a little suspicious,” Casas said.

Laura Bryan, a sophomore from Gallatin, Tenn., said she would prefer using a Segway rather than walking up and down the Hill.

“I think they look like robots,” Bryan said.

High gas prices have also made Segways more appealing for campus police.

An officer using a patrol car will go through a tank of gas a day, Hatchett said.

Segways are powered by batteries and only require about six hours to charge for a whole day, Casas said.

Officers can also stay more energized during a 14- or 16-hour shift, because they don’t have to walk as much, Casas said.

Hatchett said he was on his feet for 12 hours when he was helping students move into the dorms.

He said he would have been completely wiped out before the day ended if he hadn’t had a Segway.

The Segway has also made officers more approachable, Hatchett said.

“An officer pulling up next to someone in a car has a negative vibe to it, but with this people are intrigued, and in turn, more willing to talk to officers,” he said.

Sarah Gorham, a sophomore from Gallatin, Tenn., said she would probably laugh if she saw an officer on a Segway chasing someone.

“I know I couldn’t outrun one, but it would be hysterical to watch someone try,” she said.

Reach Andrew McNamara at news@wkuherald.com.