From quick turns to de-escalation, pocket-size Akron police cruiser cuts a smart profile

For six years, Akron police officer Jay Strainer has patrolled the downtown corridor with the help of a tiny, two-seat Smart car that has come to be a staple of the area.

Strainer works mostly on foot patrolling the areas around Main, High and Broadway streets between Market and Bartges streets. The Smart car is there for an emergency or an instance where he has to get somewhere faster than he could on foot.

“I personally would not buy one, but for my purpose downtown it works out well,” Strainer said. “I can park it anywhere. It turns on a dime, which is kind of nice. I do like that. It's like driving a go kart.”

Capt. Michael Miller said the car currently has 37,000 miles on it and was made in 2016. The police department plans to use the Smart car as long as it continues to run reliably, he said.

The police department assigned the Smart car to Strainer, a mobile officer, for a beat patrol because it allows Strainer to maneuver through the tighter downtown area more easily as opposed to using a regular police cruiser, Miller said.

Strainer said frequenters of the area have come to expect him when they see the Smart car, and often ask about him when they notice the car parked without him inside.

He said compared to the regular police cruisers, the car sticks out on the streets, letting people know that he’s working rather than another officer.

“He's one of the few officers that still wears his hat,” Miller said. “So he stands out, but he's visible and, and I tell you what, he's a great guy too. He does a great job. He's one of those guys —  he knows everybody.”

Strainer said while he does get a lot of people who laugh at the car, he appreciates its ability to deescalate what may otherwise become a more intense situation.

Strainer recalled an instance where he pulled up to a man who was dealing with mental illness issues, and when the man saw the Smart car, he immediately became more calm and started smiling.

“So maybe I am a little more approachable,” Strainer said. “Less intimidating.”

Strainer said he’s had to chase people in the Smart car and often makes traffic stops. He remembers one instance where he chased a cyclist down Cedar Street and another where he helped a man who was threatening suicide.

Despite the car’s miniature appearance, it fits a driver and passenger almost as easily as any other car.

“'I’m 6’1. I've sat in it before. I fit,” Miller said, laughing. “But I wouldn’t want to, you know, ride in it driving around all day, I’ll tell you that!”

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: From quick turns to de-escalation, pocket-size Akron police cruiser cuts a smart profile