AUBURN – Gliding through the city at a brisk 12 mph, standing tall and going places no cruiser can go, Auburn police are one step closer to the reality of Robocop.

For the past few weeks, the department has been trying out a Segway, a sleek and trendy gizmo few people will expect to see a cop aboard.

So far, the results are good. The two-wheeled upright gizmos run on battery power so there is no need for fuel. The Segway is supremely mobile so a cop can cover a lot of ground without fretting over finding a parking space or honking at traffic.

“It works great in the downtown district,” says Deputy Chief Jason Moen. “The Segway is mobile all day long. You can cover a lot more ground in the least amount of time.”

The Segway was once a toy for adult children and uber geeks. The user leans in to go forward, leans back to go in reverse and turns by using a lean-steer handlebar.

It will be a strange sight for some, no doubt, but don’t be fooled: the officers aboard the Segway can still write you up for a parking violations or arrest you if you get out of line.

But aggressive law enforcement is not the immediate aim.

“We are looking at alternative fuel solutions,” Moen said. “The Segway runs on battery power. It can go eight hours on a charge. It’s just another tool for us, and a very fuel efficient one.”

The department is trying out the Computer Age buggy after making arrangements with Windham-based Triple Nickle Tactical Supply, the only business in the state that stocks the Segway.

So far, results have been good. Parking Enforcement Officer Roger Perrault has been tooling around the city looking for violators.

In the past, Perrault had to park the department’s gas-guzzling Ford Escape, walk for a few blocks handing out tickets, walk back and drive to the next location.

Not anymore. Lately, Perrault has been buzzing along from block to block on the Segway, using zero gasoline and getting where he needs to go without hassle. One recent foray that brought him from the police station to the Auburn Mall and then back, took four hours. When he returned, the battery still had four hours of charge left.

“Given the current energy crisis and the price of gas, we’re looking into these kinds of alternatives,” Moen said.

Call it an “electric personal assistive mobility device” if you want to, but the cool people know it as the Segway. If all goes well – and so far it’s all been geeky goodness – police will work the purchase of one into next year’s budget.

Not that it’s for parking control only. Over the weekend, officers patrolled the balloon festival aboard the Segway, moving easily through the throngs as they responded to problems or simply mingled.

“A couple of our bike officers have tried it out in the areas that they patrol,” Moen said. “It worked out really well there, too.”