Massachusetts PD's UTV to Assist in Hard-to-Access Places

The Lowell, Massachusetts, Police Department's fleet grew, with the addition of a new Kubota utility terrain vehicle (UTV). Acting Police Superintendent for Barry Golner said the vehicle will enable more high visibility patrols at civic events, parks, and in parts of the city that can be difficult to access.

Multipurpose for Multiple Seasons

The new vehicle is diesel powered, and includes a closed cabin area with a heater and air conditioning that will make the vehicle usable year-round and in inclement weather, unlike the department’s existing utility vehicles.

The vehicle was purchased using funds from the city's Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program, which uses funds received from motor vehicle enforcement to increase the visibility of traffic safety patrols and to reduce crashes and dangerous driving by reminding drivers that police are on patrol. 

The vehicle will be used by Lowell PD's Traffic Enforcement Division for traffic patrols, downtown patrols, as well as for housing officers, and the Lowell's Neighborhood Action Unit.

The vehicle will also provide police with a marked unit that has flashing lights for responding to emergencies at civic events a local festival hosted in the city that traditional police cruisers cannot easily or quickly access.

In previous years, police used rented golf carts. However, without police markings or lights, the vehicles did not provide an easy way to navigate through dense crowds.

“With the increase in outdoor sporting events during the summer months, we’ll be able to have it out in the parks, and it will also increase the visibility of patrols in areas like public housing and the downtown," Golner said.

Repurposing Existing Equipment

The vehicle was prepared by the Lowell Police Fleet Maintenance Division, which repurposed lights and radio equipment from old police cruisers to equip the utility vehicle, which prevented the department from having to buy that equipment new — a substantial cost savings.