University Police buy scooters in preparation for challenges

The University of Texas at Tyler’s security guard, Richard Moore, patrols on the newly purchased T3 scooter as a means to increase on campus security. This new addition cost roughly $11,000.

University police are preparing for the financial challenges of the next school year by purchasing new equipment and updating some the department already owns.

One purchase, a zero-emission scooter called the T3, is already in use. Funds for the $11,000 scooter came from state money rather than University funding.

The Department chose the T3 instead of a bicycle for a number of reasons, mainly financial. The unit costs about 10 cents a day to operate and it costs less than a regular vehicle to insure, maintain and replace.

"We chose the T3 mainly because cycle officers do not work well on a small campus like Tyler's," said Sergeant Heath Cariker. "For every officer on a cycle, we must have another with a vehicle in case an arrest needs to be made or backup is needed."

All seven security guards employed by the University are trained to operate the T3.

"We are in the process of training the officers to operate the T3 at the moment," Cariker said. "The summer is a time for the department to catch up on all of our administrative duties while most of the student population is on break. Hopefully, all of them can be trained before the first day of fall semester."

Police expect to increase the department's fleet of vehicles in the coming weeks.

"In addition to the four squad cars, one security truck, the Chiefs' unmarked police car and the T3, we have two additional vehicles on order," Cariker said. "The vehicles on order are a Ford Expedition for the police department and a Dodge Dakota truck that will be going to the Palestine campus."

The police department is also putting the finishing touches on the outdoor warning system.

When completed, the warning system will have three outdoor alert centers.

The outdoor alert system currently has speakers on top of the RBS building and the University's ballpark.

The third location will be at Perkins Soccer Complex.

Police expect to have the system completed by the first day of fall semester.

The warning system is activated during a campus emergency such as a severe weather event, or when campus safety has been compromised.

Sara Pyle, a junior accounting major, remains skeptical over the T3 purchase.

She believes the department could have used the money elsewhere.

"I think that the police should have hired a bicycle officer instead of spending $11,000 on a scooter," Pyle said.

"The T3 still must be charged every day, sucking energy from the electrical grid while a bicycle ... would take no energy at all."