From local news coverage to community reaction, Trikke patrol vehicles become more than a new patrol tool. They become a conversation starter.
Every police department wants equipment that helps officers do their jobs. But every now and then, a piece of equipment does something more: it gets people talking.
That’s becoming a recurring pattern wherever Trikkes appear.
Their design sparks curiosity, creating opportunities for officers to engage with their communities and for departments to receive positive media exposure.
In Wheeling, West Virginia, local television and print media both covered the department’s new Trikke Positrons. The buzz reflected exactly what Lieutenant Josh Sanders experienced once the vehicles hit the streets:
“Everybody wants to know what they are. So community engagement is almost instant by just having the ability to stop, have a conversation and have a positive interaction.”
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia also emphasized the connection the vehicles helped create between deputies and the public:
“Deputies are enjoying patrolling on their new Trikkes. They provide a great opportunity to stop and talk with people in the community.”
At Hollywood Burbank Airport, cameras captured officers training with a new fleet of Trikke patrol vehicles. The setting was different, but the visibility was unmistakable: officers learning to use a distinctive patrol vehicle in a busy public environment.
The stories come from different departments and different settings, but they share a common thread.
Trikke patrol vehicles naturally invite conversation. What begins as curiosity often becomes an opportunity for a positive interaction.
That is something difficult to measure on a specification sheet, but easy to recognize in the field.
Riverfront crowds, parks, parades, and traffic congestion make mobility a priority across the Queen City
Since March 2025, the Cincinnati Police Department has deployed three 72V Trikke Positron XL patrol vehicles as part of its downtown and event policing strategy, giving officers a faster and more agile way to move through crowded streets, parks, sidewalks, and large public gatherings.
Located along the Ohio River and widely known as the Queen City, Cincinnati is home to more than 309,000 residents and anchors a metropolitan region of more than 2.3 million people. The downtown core includes major sports venues, riverfront destinations, public parks, festivals, parades, and dense pedestrian traffic that can quickly challenge traditional patrol methods.
The department serves 52 neighborhoods across the city and maintains approximately 1,000 sworn officers. For those working in crowded public spaces, the Positron XL fills an important gap between foot patrol, bicycles, ATVs, and larger vehicles.
“We mainly patrol in a downtown environment, which has several large parks as well,” says Officer Brent Eve of the Central Business Section Neighborhood Liaison Unit. “We also use the Trikkes for our many events and parades.”
“This makes getting around a breeze!”
Officer Brent Eve, CINCINNATI PD
Officers have experience using multiple patrol platforms, including Segways dating back to 2008. But according to Eve, the Trikke Positron XL has already delivered several operational advantages:
“The Trikkes are a good resource to have — the battery life is much better than the Segway, usually lasting at least a whole shift. The batteries also charge quickly, so for officers working extra before or after their shift, they can quickly recharge and continue with their duties.”
In an environment shaped by traffic congestion, crowds, riverfront activity, and constant movement between event zones, mobility matters.
“The speed also assists in getting officers around quickly when needed,” Eve says. “Trikkes are ideal for use in crowded situations. The elevation of them makes it easier for the crowds to see you, along with the lights/siren/horn/bell.”
That elevated visibility is one reason Trikke patrol vehicles continue gaining traction among law enforcement and security agencies operating in high-density public environments. Officers maintain a strong visual presence while still remaining approachable and connected to the community around them.
Maneuverability has become another major advantage.
“The ability to get around our area with quickness and ease,” Eve says when asked what officers like most about using the vehicles.
“We often have several large scale events occurring at the same time, which causes traffic congestion. The Trikkes can easily navigate this by going around traffic, on sidewalks, or through alleys or buildings. This makes getting around a breeze!”
The department also praised the onboarding process and hands-on instruction provided during deployment.
“The Trikke Tech training was phenomenal!” Eve says. “All of the staff at Trikke were extremely friendly and made us feel like we were at home. I would HIGHLY recommend this training to any agency that purchases the Trikkes.”
As cities continue searching for ways to improve patrol mobility, visibility, and operational flexibility without relying exclusively on larger vehicles, agencies like Cincinnati PD are showing how electric patrol platforms can help officers cover more ground in the environments where traditional patrol methods face limitations.
Former police officers explain why modern agencies benefit from greater mobility, visibility, and rapid response capabilities.
“In my previous life as a police officer, I would have loved to have had an entire fleet of these things.”
That’s the conclusion Brian Mahone, Director of Safety and Security for INDYCAR Racing, reached after nearly three years of riding the Trikke Positron as part of the company’s security operations.
Mahone, along with Mike Bates, Senior Director of Safety and Security for INDYCAR, spent years in law enforcement before moving into race-day security operations.
“Brian and I are both former police officers and motorcycle officers,” Bates says. “We’ve trained on Harley-Davidsons and all kinds of two-wheeled vehicles.”
For Bates, the vehicle’s handling stands out.
“It feels so natural now. It’s almost part of your body,” he says.
Mahone also addressed one of the concerns often raised by first-time riders.
“People can be a little intimidated at first,” he says. “What they don’t realize is that the three-wheel design provides incredible stability. Once you get on it, the vehicle responds naturally to your body weight and movements. They’re awesome.”
The endorsement comes from a security team responsible for protecting one of the fastest and most demanding environments in professional sports, where mobility, visibility, and rapid response matter every day.
“It’s especially useful for large departments that have a lot of ground to cover,” Bates says. “For police departments, parks departments, and other agencies responsible for large but contained areas, it’s a perfect tool. I would absolutely recommend it.”
The Positron 60V bridges the gap between foot patrol and larger patrol vehicles, helping officers cover more ground while remaining connected to the community.
Parks. Trails. Downtown streets. Community events.
Those are the environments where officers from the Hardeeville Police Department expect to put their new Trikke patrol vehicles to work as part of the department’s ongoing commitment to community-oriented policing and public safety.
The department recently added two Trikke Positron 60V patrol vehicles to its fleet, becoming the first law enforcement agency in the Palmetto State to deploy Trikke Professional Mobility vehicles.
In announcing the new patrol vehicles, the department highlighted their ability to help officers remain highly visible and approachable while moving efficiently through areas where traditional patrol vehicles can be less practical.
According to the department, the Trikkes will be used to patrol parks, trails, downtown areas, special events, and community gatherings. The vehicles provide greater mobility than foot patrol while helping officers maintain a strong presence and increase positive interactions with residents and visitors.
For agencies focused on community engagement, visibility matters. Officers who can move easily through public spaces while remaining accessible to the people they serve are often better positioned to build relationships, answer questions, and address issues before they escalate.
The Trikke Positron 60V helps bridge the gap between foot patrol and larger patrol vehicles. Its compact design allows officers to navigate crowded areas and community spaces while covering more ground than they could on foot alone.
As communities continue to grow and public events become larger and more frequent, agencies across the country are looking for ways to increase patrol coverage without sacrificing visibility or approachability. Hardeeville’s deployment reflects that trend.
By becoming the first law enforcement agency in South Carolina to adopt Trikke patrol vehicles, Hardeeville Police is embracing a patrol strategy focused on mobility, presence, and community connection.
Photos courtesy of the Hardeeville Police Department.
What happens after Trikke patrol vehicles move beyond the novelty stage?
Several stories from the Trikke Mobility archives reveal a pattern familiar to almost any new technology.
First comes curiosity.
Then comes experience.
Then comes the moment people stop talking about what something is.
And start talking about what it does.
When Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant was introduced to Trikke patrol vehicles in 2022, his reaction was one many people can understand:
“I never would have thought in a million years that something like this would be equipment on our streets.”
At the time, the conversation centered on possibilities. Could these three-wheel, electric vehicles help officers manage crowds, navigate traffic, and improve visibility in busy public spaces? Atlanta wasn’t alone. Around the country, departments were introducing Trikke patrol vehicles to their communities and local media, often generating the same mix of curiosity and excitement.
In Indianapolis, deputies described their new patrol vehicles as:
“Agile electric horses without the cleanup.”
In Wheeling, West Virginia, local media followed officers as they introduced the vehicles to the community. In Fargo, North Dakota, and Somerton, Arizona, departments explained how patrol mobility might help improve coverage, visibility, and public engagement.
At that stage, the discussion was largely about potential.
What could these vehicles do?
How would officers use them?
Would they prove effective in the field?
Several years later, many of those questions have been answered by the officers who ride them.
In a 2025 roundup of law enforcement comments from across the country, the conversation sounded noticeably different.
Wheeling Police Lieutenant Josh Sanders observed:
“Immediately upon trying them, we thought they were really cool. Community engagement is almost instant.”
Dallas College Police Captain James Smith Jr. focused on operational benefits:
“With a Trikke, you’re just cruising right through the environment and covering a lot more area with a lot less energy.”
And in Atlanta, where the story began with curiosity, Lieutenant Brendon Barth offered a much simpler assessment:
“I really enjoy using the Positron. It has great mobility, speed, handling, and visibility. It’s perfect around parks and crowds.”
The contrast is revealing.
The early stories are about introduction.
The later stories are about experience.
Together, they show how perceptions evolve once a new patrol tool moves from the novelty stage to everyday use.
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