News
June Hit of the Month: Fairfield Police Department, Connecticut
October 5, 2022
By: Zach Madden
Category: Stop Stick Hit of the Month
2022 June Stop Stick Hit of the Month: June
The winners and Nominees for Stop Stick’s Hit of the Month for May 2022.
“Hit of the Month” is Stop Stick, Ltd.’s program to recognize truly outstanding performance results coming from the successful deployment of Stop Stick® Tire Deflation Device in ending pursuits. Every month hundreds of reports are received from across the country documenting successful deployments of Stop Sticks®. These reports detail stories of exceptional police work and proper deployment of the Stop Stick® Tire Deflation Device to bring pursuits to an end safely. Below are the departments that were nominated from the hundreds of submissions, and the ones who have been selected as the “Hit of the Month”.
2022 June Stop Stick: Winner:
EAST
Fairfield Police Department
Fairfield, Connecticut
- # of tires deflated: 4
- Pursuit Speed: 31-40 MPH
- Time of Pursuit: 14 Minutes
- Miles Traveled after deployment: 3
- Target Vehicle Make: 2021 Honda Civic
- Deploying Officer(s): Officer Tom Gorton, Det. Michael Colwell
Fairfield Police utilized Stop Stick to end a lengthy pursuit. The chase involved two juveniles in a stolen Honda Civic.
The pursuit started after an unmarked Fairfield Police vehicle ran the suspect vehicle’s information. It discovered someone had recently reported the vehicle stolen from a violent carjacking.
When a marked Fairfield Patrol vehicle attempted a traffic stop, the driver chose to flee at high speed. Fairfield officers quickly deployed Stop Sticks, flattening three of the stolen vehicle’s tires.
The suspect, refusing to give up, entered I-95 but drove at a drastically reduced speed. Consequently, another Fairfield officer positioned ahead with a second set of Stop Sticks. This officer punctured the vehicle’s last remaining tire.
The suspects lost control and abandoned the car in a grass median. Following a short foot pursuit, officers apprehended the two juvenile suspects. Searching the stolen vehicle, officers found two ghost guns with extended magazines and over an ounce of narcotics. The juveniles face numerous charges, including first-degree larceny and possession with intent to distribute drugs.
Cindy, Spencer, and I nominated Officer Tom Gorton and Det. Michael Colwell as June’s Hit of the Month recipients. Their intervention with Stop Stick led to the direct capture of two young, violent individuals. Their use of Stop Sticks brought a safe end to the pursuit.
Michigan Troopers, assisted by Lansing PD, Livingston Co., and Oakland Co. Deputies, managed to capture all nine of the suspects shortly after they bailed out on foot. Another nearby agency located and arrested the fifth stolen Camaro shortly after.
2022 June Stop Stick: Nominees
South
Bedford Police Department
Bedford, Texas
- # of tires deflated: 2
- Pursuit Speed: 31-40 MPH
- Time of Pursuit: 5 Minutes
- Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1
- Target Vehicle Make: 1996 Lexus LS4
- Deploying Officer: Officer D. Wood
Bedford Police Department Officer D. Wood’s deployment of Stop Stick was used to stop an elderly man who had been reported as missing. The man had become lost and disoriented, when officers attempted to stop the missing individual’s vehicle the individual did not respond to officers flashing lights, and instead continued traveling between 30 to 40 Mph in a 70 Mph zone. Officer Wood was able to position himself out ahead of the individual’s vehicle and deploy Stop Stick, flattening 3 of the vehicle’s tires and bringing an end to the slow-speed pursuit without any further incident. The missing individual was able to be positively identified and returned home without any further incident.
2022 June Stop Stick: MID-WEST
Chippewa Falls Police Department
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- # of tires deflated: 1
- Pursuit Speed: 21-30 MPH
- Time of Pursuit: 49 Minutes
- Miles Traveled after deployment: <1
- Target Vehicle Make: 2007 Chrysler 300
- Deploying Officer: Officer James Harper
Officer Harper’s deployment has earned him the MID-WEST region’s nomination. His deployment and video show his deployment of Stop Stick during a pursuit with an individual observed driving recklessly and under the influence. The suspect vehicle was observed swerving and the driver slumped over at the wheel. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle only to initiate a pursuit when the suspect refused to adhere to the officer’s orders. Officer Harper was able to position himself ahead of the suspect’s vehicle and quickly deploy Stop Sticks flattening 2 of the vehicle’s tires. The suspect then attempted to ditch the vehicle on foot but was quickly taken into custody. The suspect is facing charges of Possession of meth& paraphernalia, bicycle theft, bail jumping, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
WEST
Fargo Police Department
Fargo, North Dakota
- # of tires deflated: 1
- Pursuit Speed: 21-30 MPH
- Time of Pursuit: 49 Minutes
- Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1
- Target Vehicle Make: 1988 Chevrolet C1500
- Deploying Officer: Officer T. Seehusen
Officer Seehusen’s deployment of Stop Stick resulted in the direct capture of two individuals. These suspects had fled from Fargo Police twice in the previous two days.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office initiated the pursuit. They had previously attempted to stop the suspects with Stop Stick, flattening three of their tires. However, the suspects were not willing to give up and proceeded to flee with only one tire still intact. The sheriff’s department would eventually break off the pursuit. This allowed an unmarked Fargo Police Department vehicle to tail the suspects as they continued to flee at a slow speed.
Officer Seehusen got in position and deployed Stop Stick one last time. He was able to flatten the suspects’ last remaining tire. The suspects, trying to shake the pursuing officers, now drove the vehicle through road construction barriers. They only got the car stuck in the mud. The suspects attempted to flee on foot but officers quickly caught them. They face charges of fleeing, aggravated reckless endangerment, and driving under suspension.
Pair arrested following late night pursuit through Fargo and Moorhead
To register for Stop Stick® Hit of the Month, please submit a Deployment Report using the Link: https://stopstick.com/deployment-report/
You can be considered for Video of the year by uploading Dashcam, or Bodycam footage after submitting your Deployment Report.
If you know an officer who should be nominated for Hit of the Month please submit a pursuit report: https://stopstick.com/deployment-report/