Jul 15, 2013 3 min read

Washington is selling the motorized tri-wheel police vehicle it purchased for $12,000 nearly five years ago after it became too costly to maintain and didn’t provide the personalized patrols city officials had promised.

City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to sell the T3 Motion vehicle to California University of Pennsylvania for just $800 after the school was the only entity to bid on it.

The city purchased the electric-powered vehicle in August 2008 using money donated from Washington Federal Savings Bank, but soon found it was unable to travel the hilly terrain in the neighborhoods and quickly chewed up front tires. In recent years, police only used the vehicle, which is similar to a Segway but with three wheels, to deliver bank deposits.

Mayor Brenda Davis, who was not in her position when the vehicle was put into service, said the maintenance became “a burden” for the city and the police department saved money by not using it.

“It was a nice thought, but over time we found it wasn’t able to be utilized the way we thought,” Davis said. “With the new chief coming on board (in May), this is part of his decision-making process. This was an idea he came forward with to council.”

She and new city police Chief Chris Luppino both said it was better to sell the equipment and encourage more walking patrols. Luppino said the three-wheel vehicle did not encourage the more personalized relationships with citizens that city officials said they expected when they bought it.

“I’d rather have the guys walking the beat than riding on it,” Luppino said. “It’s more of a one-to-one relationship when you’re walking with the citizens.”

But that’s exactly what Cal U. officials said they hope the T3 Motion will provide when officers begin using it for patrols this upcoming semester. The one major difference might be the relatively flat terrain around campus.

University police Chief Edward McSheffery said the vehicle “combines the benefits of a vehicle and a foot patrol” and will allow officers to travel across campus faster.

“This was an affordable opportunity to make a major enhancement in our department’s mobility, visibility and response time,” McSheffery said. “This is an amazing tool that will allow us to travel across campus rapidly. It’s maneuverable, quiet and much faster than a patrolman on foot.”

University Spokeswoman Christine Kindl thinks it will improve safety and security around the campus, especially near the residence halls and at the Convocation Center for events that attract large crowds.

“It moves faster than a patrolman on foot, but it also fits with community policing philosophy,” Kindl said. “Folks don’t necessarily walk up to a cruiser and talk to an officer. But we’ve found with our bike patrols that students are much more willing to walk up to the officers on bicycles. We’re hoping for something similar with (the T3 Motion vehicle).”

The vehicle was purchased using a combination of university and private funds, Kindl said.