The Hickory Grove Division of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were lucky enough to receive a pair of Yamaha Rhinos that were donated by Yamaha.
Officer Brian Sanders and his partner Officer Jeff Bumgarner came up with the idea of using UTVs when looking at different ways to crack down on crime and Captain Glen Neimeyer and Sergeant Ojaniit agreed to the concept.
The Rhinos are deployed in high crime areas and allow officers to get behind and in between building where normal patrol cars cannot easily drive. Officers can also get from neighborhood to neighborhood through right-of-ways and cut response time in half.
Officers started using the Rhino’s in April of 2008 and in just over three months, they have logged over 800 miles and made 31 arrests. They average one arrest for every three hours of patrolling on a Rhino.
Twelve police officers are now trained to use the Rhinos.
Modifications:
They’re outfitted with blue flashing lights and marked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments logo. The Rhinos also have a hard-mounted lockable gear box, which hold a handheld spotlight and other tools needed for patrol.
More Photos:
2008 Yamaha Rhino Specifications:
| Model: | 2008 Rhino 700 FI Auto. 4×4 |
| Vehicle Type: | 4WD |
| Price: | $10,699 |
| Color: | Hunter Green |
| Engine: | Liquid-cooled with fan, 4-stroke; SOHC, 4-valves, all wheel braking |
| Displacement: | 686 cc |
| Bore x Stroke: | 102 x 84 mm |
| Compression Ratio: | 9.2:1 |
| Carburetion: | Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), 41 mm |
| Ignition: | 32 Bit ECU |
| Starter: | Electric |
| Transmission: | Yamaha Ultramatic® V-belt (H/L/N/R) Drive Train: Yamaha On-Command® push button 3-way locking differential, 2WD, 4WD, locked 4WD; shaft |
| Suspension: | Front & Rear: Independent double wishbone with 5-way preload adjustment; 7.3 in. travel |
| Brakes: | Front: Dual hydraulic disc, twin piston Rear: Dual hydraulic disc |
| Tires: | Front: AT25 x 8-12 NHS Rear: AT25 x 10-12 NHS |
| Length: | 113.6 in. |
| Height: | 73 in. |
| Width: | 54.4 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 75.2 in. |
| Ground Clearance: | 12.1 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 7.9 gal. |
| Turning Radius: | 153.5 in. |
| Load Capacity: | 400 lbs. |
| Towing Capacity: | 1,212 lbs. |
Yamaha Rhino:
Links:
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
- New ATVs Help Police Patrol Charlotte Neighborhoods
- Some CMPD officers patrol on Rhino
- Matthews Fun Machines
- Yamaha Rhino Product Review
