It’s not a Segway: MPs hit the road on new vehicles

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Story by Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot

Date: 07.01.2011
Posted: 07.06.2011 17:52
News ID: 73306
It’s not a Segway: MPs hit the road on new vehicles

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - Military police officers with the Provost Marshal’s Office trained on two new T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicles July 1.

PMO plans to debut the vehicles at the 2011 Air Show to test their functionality with crowd control and rapid emergency response.

“These give us more versatility,” said Bruce Theisen, the training chief with PMO and Putnam, Conn., native. “We have bikes and all-terrain vehicles, but with these we can cover more ground.”

The ESVs can travel up to 20 mph, clear obstacles such as curbs and go down stairs.

Additionally, the ESVs are energy efficient and can last approximately ten hours on a single battery charge, making them more environmentally friendly than the gas-powered ATVs.

“We’re looking forward to using them,” said Lance Cpl. Eric Hersperger, a military police officer with PMO and Boston native. “Most [police officers] think they’re a little goofy looking until they use it. Then they don’t want to get off!”

Only 15 military police officers will qualify and train on the ESVs before the air show, explained Theisen. However, he added that the ESVs are easy to learn due to their stability and maneuverability.

The recent qualifiers on the ESV have sung praises for the new addition to the PMO vehicle arsenal.

“This only makes my job easier,” said Hersperger. “It saves me the energy that I need to do my job more efficiently.”

Sgt. Anthony Barnes, a military police officer with PMO and Las Vegas native, agreed after his first test drive that it will be a welcomed aid at the air show.

“I can’t get my [patrol car] to anything [on the flight line] because of all the people,” said Barnes. “This gives me another option.”

Between its energy efficiency and mobility, military police officers believe the T3 Series ESV will improve their ability to keep Miramar and its service members and families safe.