Police add UTV to fleet

South Fayette police add utility terrain vehicle to fleet

UTV provides capability for park patrols and off-road responses

By Andrea Iglar

The South Fayette Township Police Department has expanded its fleet with a UTV—short for utility terrain, or task, vehicle.

The Polaris Ranger Crew SP 570 is designed to be used in natural areas where it is impractical to drive full-size vehicles.

"If we need to go where a car can't go, the UTV gives us that option," Police Chief John Phoennik said.

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger, left, and Chief John Phoennik display the department's new utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, for park patrols and off-road emergency responses.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

While All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, generally are used for recreation, UTVs are built for work.

The police UTV, also called a side-by-side, has four seats, off-road tires, red and blue police lights, a spotlight, storage space, a winch and a 1,500-pound towing capacity.

Officers may use the UTV to patrol parks and respond to off-road emergency incidents.

"The UTV is going to be used during Community Day, the Memorial Day parade, the Evelsizer 5K and other events," Phoennik said. “We can use it for medical and rescue calls too.”

The cost of the UTV, fully equipped, was $20,000. The vehicle was included in this year's police budget.

South Fayette police Lt. John Leininger displays the department's new utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, near Morgan Park in March.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

All officers are being trained to safely and effectively operate the vehicle, and the department has established a policy for its use.

The policy states that the UTV can provide "a police presence and enforcement in areas otherwise inaccessible" and may be used to "conduct searches, surveillance or investigations where travel to and from the location is impractical by other means of transportation."

"This extends the capabilities of the police department," Phoennik said.