2008 Woodie Awards
Public Safety unveils Hummer H3 as new patrol vehicle
Hummer combines speed and style for Public Safety officers
Jonathan Stride/Commuter Man
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Cooligan
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"With all the large vehicles on campus, we thought a Hummer would be the best way to make us stand out," said Chief of Public Safety Bill Foley. He points out that many students drive trucks and SUVs similar to what the department currently employs in its service. "We wanted to be sure that no one could mistake a student vehicle with one of our own," Foley said.
As far as Public Safety vehicles go, the H3 certainly stands out. Towering above most cars, the six-foot tall Hummer is the first of several H3's that Public Safety intends to roll out for campus security. "By the end of 2009, the Department hopes to convert its entire fleet to Hummers," Foley said.
Unlike previous enforcement vehicles, the H3 will allow officers to cruise in style. A smooth leather interior pads the inside of the vehicle and officers can choose to listen to satellite radio. "I admit, it's a bit more comfortable than bouncing around in a pickup truck," Foley said.
But the department's Hummer H3 is primarily designed for rapid transportation across campus, so that Public Safety can respond to problems within a fraction of the time. Capable of going from zero to 60 miles per hour in 9.3 seconds, the Hummer can pass through flooded streets and scale steps as high as 16 inches. Foley said that the department will be "much more efficient when dealing with crises," because the Hummer can protect officers from the elements and help reduce the number of crimes on campus.
"No one's going to damage campus property when they've got a Hummer breathing down their neck," Foley explained. This included the Hummers themselves as earlier this year, a DUI incident involved an intoxicated student driving into one of the standard Public Safety trucks.
Students had mixed reactions when the Hummer was unveiled. "So Public Safety can upgrade its fleet, yet the school can't afford to give De La Salle Hall an elevator?" said Mike Schmitt '10. "I'm not sure how a bigger vehicle is going to help them reduce incidents around campus," he said. Project Green member Kyle Bonderud '09 wasn't too impressed either. "It's hypocritical for the school to claim it supports environmental issues and then turn around and buy Public Safety a gas guzzling Hummer," he said.
But Megan Naton '08 was more optimistic. "I'm glad that Public Safety is getting a Hummer-it'll be a constant reminder that we're living in a secure community," she said.
As for the officers, they believe that the Hummer will help improve their reputation among students. "After all, people will always be looking up at you when you're in a Hummer," said Joe Arone, a Public Safety officer.