Contact: Elaine Tricoli
Phone: (336) 373-2421

Police Department Receives Donation of Two Segways

GREENSBORO, NC – (July 23, 2008) – Greensboro developer Roy Carroll has donated two Segways to the Greensboro Police Department.

Also called “personal transporters,” the Segways will be used as a complement to the bicycle and foot patrols currently operating in downtown Greensboro. The Segways are valued at about $6,000 each.

“We are very grateful to Mr. Carroll for this generous donation,” said Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy. “This is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through partnerships between the public sector and private industry.”

Carroll, who is the owner of The Carroll Cos., said during a news conference today that he made the offer to the Police Department after learning that other police departments in the state and throughout the country have incorporated the transporters into their patrol operations.

He then offered to let the GPD use a Segway for a week to determine whether it could be a valuable addition to the force. Officer Ryan Todd, a member of the Center City Resource Team, was assigned to use the Segway during the trial period. Todd said he found it to be extremely effective at enhancing the department’s community policing philosophy.

“I’ve had more people talking to me this past week than ever before,” Todd said. “It makes it much easier for people to approach you because you can ride this on the sidewalk, and it’s very easy to get on and get off of it. It makes you very approachable, but it’s also an excellent tool to be able to see over crowds and to move quickly through the downtown area.”

Officers who will use the Segways must attend a training class before they begin patrolling on the transporters, Bellamy said.

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 The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.