Updated: Friday, September 9, 2005

Atlantic City Police Officer Mark Burns patrols the Boardwalk on Thursday in front of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort on the Police Department's new Segway.

Police patrols in the city have just gotten some electricity.

The Police Department debuted its Segway motorized scooter Thursday on the Boardwalk.

Officer Mark Burns, who trains the city's bicycle officers, is trying the new wheels for the city.

"We're testing and evaluating it," Lt. Michael Tullio said. "So far, it seems to be very easy to learn how to use. (Burns) learned how to use it in one morning. I think he received about 30 minutes of training."

The city will use the electric-powered scooter to see if they want more on patrol.

"It lends a different type of transportation," Lt. Michael Tullio said. "It goes in areas where even a bicycle might have a hard time, such as crowds."

So far there have been quite a few positives, Tullio said: It puts the officer a foot above the crowd and can be used by a uniformed officer with only a bicycle helmet. Bike officers have additional equipment.

"It's electric powered and it can carry equipment," Tullio said. "It's something that we're looking at in addition to a regular radio car besides bicycle patrol and foot patrol."

He added that it's attractive in replacing foot patrol because an officer can cover the same amount of area as a bicycle.

"It's getting a lot of attention up there," Tullio said of the Segway's Boardwalk bow. "It's become quite a conversation piece."