News & Facts

Contact: Jenny Wedge
(949) 252-5182 (office)
(888) 210-6301 (pager)

SANTA ANA, Calif. – John Wayne Airport (JWA) this week introduced two new state-of-the-art tools that will enhance the overall safety and security for the traveling public. The Segway PT and the T3 “personal transporters” are being operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department who provide Airport Police services for JWA. These transporters will provide increased mobility and improved visibility for the officers during their patrols around the Thomas F. Riley Terminal complex.

link to high res photo

 Airport Police will enhance patrols with the T3 (left) and Segway PT (right) 

“We spent a significant amount of time researching these vehicles and believe they are a sound investment,” said Alan L. Murphy, Airport Director. “We will see improved efficiency not only within the safety and security arena, but also environmentally as these operate on lithium batteries and produce zero emissions."

“These vehicles improve our response time to emergencies and allow our officers to arrive on the scene fresh and ready to take appropriate action,” said Captain Dennis DeMaio, Orange County Sheriff’s Department/Airport Operations Division. “These vehicles will greatly improve our officer’s visibility around the Airport and allow them to cover more area in less time.”

The Segway PT and T3 will be used for routine patrols and traffic control on the upper and lower roadways, in the parking structures and inside the Riley Terminal. Both vehicles are very maneuverable, take up a small footprint, have a zero turn radius and can stop on a dime, if needed.

-###-

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is a self-supporting enterprise, owned and operated by the County of Orange, and serves more than nine million passengers annually and is governed by the five-member Orange County Board of Supervisors.