Beginning Monday, Oct. 5, the department will begin a permanent DUI task force. Authorities said a specially trained officer, whose main focus will be to get impaired drivers off the road, has been assigned to the task force. City officials said another officer may be assigned at a later date.
Such specialized task forces are common in communities the size to which Suwanee has grown, according to Chief Mike Jones.
"The laws related to and prosecution of DUI have become so complex that there's a need for officers who are specially trained in the field," he said.
Jones said last year, Suwanee officers made 112 DUI arrests.
In a separate, pilot effort, designed to enhance police presence at Suwanee's trail and parks, the police department is testing a Segway personal transporter.
Five officers have been trained to use the Segway, which is on loan for 30 days from Suwanee Segway, a local company that offers Segway tours. The Segway, which maxes out at 12 mph, allows more officers to patrol Suwanee's parks and requires less training than bike patrols, says Sgt. Nick Jacobs.
Suwanee officials said the Segway is being used at the Suwanee Creek Greenway, Suwanee Creek Park, and Town Center Park.
Ofc. Keith Kerr, who's patrolled the Suwanee Creek Greenway on the Segway, says that he's gotten a couple of double-takes from people on the trail, but that his newest policing tool offers good maneuverability and allows him to cover more ground.
Despite its slightly awkward look, the Segway, Kerr said, is fun to "drive."
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http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/10/223719