Published 2007-08-20

Segway by the Bay announces that the San Luis Obispo County Bomb Task Force has recently purchased a Segway Personal Transporter for use during tactical bomb squad operations. Sheriff Patrick Hedges appropriated funding through federal grant money that was designated for public safety response to potential terrorist activities.

Bomb Squads deploy specialized equipment for the mitigation of improvised explosive devices (IED). Bomb suits that help protect the wearer while disarming a bomb may weigh in excess of 80 lbs. In addition to donning a bomb suit, the need to carry specialized tools and wearing a self contained breathing apparatus causes premature fatigue, exposure, and heat stress related emergency medical problems when a fully encapsulated bomb squad member must walk a great distance to the location of the suspected bomb, and then spend time on the disarming and removal sequence.

Bomb Squads have long looked for a relatively inexpensive, easily carried, and easily operated mode of transportation to get the bomb technician to the scene of the incident. Deployed from a mobile command post, the Segway can deliver a bomb technician to the mission in a very short amount of time without the fatigue associated with walking. This timesaving equates to the increased safety afforded the bomb technician involved in disarming the bomb, and the ability to restore the area to normal business activities once the bomb is removed from the location.

This is the first Segway PT purchased by a law enforcement agency in San Luis Obispo County. Worldwide, more than 400 law enforcement and security agencies now use the Segway to patrol downtown business districts, airports, parks, and school campuses.

Jim Mulhall, Lieutenant
Commanding, the San Luis Obispo County Bomb Task Force

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