About Stop Stick®

Shane Bland OFFICER - SYLACAUGA PD, AL

I just wanted to say out of all the technology that has come out in our profession over the last few years, yours is still at the top of my list. I've been doing this for 10 years now and nothing has to stop deadly pursuits like Stop Sticks. I used them the other day on a suicidal person trying to kill herself by driving into oncoming traffic and was able to get all four tires and end it within the first 10 minutes of the chase.

Austin Toal DEPUTY KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF, IDAHO

I am a Deputy Sheriff with Kootenai County in northern Idaho. I have been employed as such for almost six years now and have been involved with a number of pursuits.

On 08/07/14 was able to deploy your product and successfully and safely end a high-speed pursuit that was initiated by another agency. This is the first, in my time as a patrol deputy that I have seen/or been involved in a pursuit where tire deflation was successful. I have to say it felt good to deploy the StopSticks and bring an end to the pursuit. It was a lot less stressful than actually being in pursuit. It was estimated the suspect vehicle drove over the Stop Sticks at approximately 110 miles per hour.

I wanted to say thank you for developing a product that is intuitive to use and effective. I was pleased to find out that when I gathered the deployed StopSticks I did not get stuck with any razor-sharp barbs. I was expecting a medieval-looking device after the fleeing vehicle struck them. Please continue the good work you’re doing and the positive impact your company has had on law enforcement.

Cory Sanderson SERGEANT YAKIMA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WA

Our department covers 4,300 square miles of South Central Washington in Yakima County. Our officers, including patrol and canine units, rely on the Stop Stick® to help end pursuits safely and securely. We've successfully deployed the Stop Stick fifteen times since December of 2011. A few months ago Stop Sticks were essential in ending a felony robbery pursuit that we were assisting the city with. The suspect had led the city police department on a chase for several miles in the city and then to the highway. We were able to get out ahead of the chase and deploy the Stop Stick for a successful arrest. Stop Stick is a critical part of our team that we know we can count on to help save lives.

David Schofield CINCINNATI POLICE DEPARTMENT, OHIO

The Cincinnati Police Department’s Gang Enforcement Squad relies on Stop Stick devices to prevent dangerous traffic pursuits of known felons. After several high-risk pursuits in early 2016 the Gang Enforcement Squad outfitted all of their uniform and covert vehicles with Stop Stick, Terminator, and Piranha devices. We now deploy the devices prior to initiating traffic stops on known felons. This strategy has caused several suspects to immediately stop and comply. The few that have attempted to escape are hampered with flat tires and often surrender as they become aware of their inability to gain the speed and control necessary to escape. We have yet to have a suspect escape following the successful deployment of a Stop Stick device. This strategy has reduced the frequency and danger of traffic pursuits and enhanced our ability to apprehend dangerous felony offenders.

Sergeant Frank Guarino PALM SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT, CALIFORNIA

The PIRANHA is incorporated under spike strips in our policy. We typically use them on parked vehicles; stolen vehicles that are parked. An officer can place one on during a T-Stop if they feel the suspect may drive away, etc. We mostly utilize the PIRANHA on unoccupied stolen vehicles which are parked so we can try to limit the speeds if the vehicle drives off.
For the most part, as long as the officer states it over the radio, we are okay with that. The supervisor SHOULD be listening to the radio traffic and for my shift, my guys know to put the PIRANHA on the vehicle because that is my shift expectation with the guys. I would rather them have a flat tire during a chase, not a good tire! All of our officers have a PIRANHA. If the officer forgets to put a PIRANHA on an occupied stolen vehicle, rest assure I am reminding them over the radio. Of course, there are times when the officer cannot safely place one on a tire, so there are exceptions BUT….99 percent of the time one is placed under the tire. Our policy does not state the officer must place one on a vehicle, but it is a common practice we adhere to that we do.

Deputy Gary Graniewski JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, KANSAS

If I hadn’t deployed Stop Sticks the pursuit wouldn’t have ended well a fleeing vehicle traveling at speeds over 100 MPH on a busy highway, the likelihood of an accident is almost guaranteed, and a pit maneuver isn’t ideal at those speeds. Stop Stick allows us to control the situation.

Sergeant Chad Brown Village of Pleasant Prairie Police Department

We've had approximately 8-10 pursuits since the beginning of 2023 our agency has been involved in. Stop Stick has been an effective tool in bringing some of these pursuits to an end. Thank you for making a quality product that we can rely on to assist us in our duties. [1-25-2023]

Sgt. Maholtz Collier County Sheriff's Office

The Dodge Charger Hellcat was involved in the theft of catalytic converters and deputies attempted to stop it. The Hellcat fled from deputies, but thanks to stop sticks the Hellcat did not get away. Thus proving once again that the tortoise is faster than the hare.