TARGETED Moment cops launch GPS tracking dart to catch criminal during car chase as new device flies out of bumper on command
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TARGETED
Moment cops launch GPS tracking dart to catch criminal during car chase as new device flies out of bumper on command
The new tracking tool, made by GPS company StarChase, was used during a recent hunt for a pair of suspects who allegedly broke into a liquor store in Oak Park, Illinois, about 30 minutes west of Chicago.
The two suspects were fleeing the burglary on Thursday when cops were alerted to the escaping vehicles, quickly getting behind the speeding car.
An officer from Oak Brook, another suburb of Chicago, drove behind the alleged criminals’ vehicle and deployed the GPS tracking dart.
Video showed the tag dart shooting out of the squad car’s front and attaching to the vehicle being pursued.
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis told NewsNation how the technology works.
“An officer presses a button and it heats up an epoxy for the actual dart,” Strockis said.
“That dart has a GPS tracking device inside of it and also has a very strong magnet that shoots out of the front of the bumper of the squad car and affixes itself to the back of the fleeing vehicle.”
After the dart stuck to the car, the cops could safely pull off and end the chase while they tracked the fleeing suspects.
The officer uses the GPS dart by backing off the chase, pulling up a computer screen, and tracking the dart’s location.
The GPS information was sent to Oak Park police after the vehicle exited around the area – leading to the suspects’ arrests.
Officers arrested the two suspects at around 4:45 am on Thursday.
“If you would have told me, I started 24 years ago, that we’d be shooting GPS darts out of the front of a squad car I would have said that you’re crazy, you know,” Strockis said.
“But technology is advancing so much, especially in law enforcement, that it’s just, it’s amazing to see where we’ve come.”
Strockis told CBS News the technology changes the nature of typical police pursuits.
“It makes all the difference in the world,” Strockis said.
“Police pursuits are inherently dangerous, but I also believe it’s very dangerous for criminals not to have any consequences.”
The darts make it possible for cops to safely track suspects without them knowing.
“There’s no warrant necessary to deploy this device,” Strockis said.
“We have reasonable suspicion and probable cause that vehicle is going to flee.
“It’s a public safety tool to not only keep the officers safe, but the public safe.”
Oak Brook police reported that they’re using the darts on a weekly basis – which means they’re helping neighboring police departments as well.
Now, CBS News reports that Chicago Police have discussed implementing the tech in their city.
StarChase said in a statement that the tool de-escalates high-risk situations.
“Our integration capabilities allow multiple tools to work collectively and collaboratively to de-escalate these potentially high-risk events,” the company said in a statement to CBS News.
“This dramatically improves the safety of the officer(s) and suspect(s) involved and the public writ large.”
