July Hit of the Month 2023: Los Angeles Police Department [CA]

November 20, 2023

By: Zach Madden

July 2023 Stop Stick Hit of the Month

The winners and Nominees for July 2023 Stop Stick’s Hit of the Month.
“July 2023 Stop Stick 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”.

Winner:

West

Los Angeles Police Department
Canooga Park, California

# of tires deflated: 2
Pursuit Speed: 11-20 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 120 Minutes (2 separate pursuits)
Miles Traveled after deployment: 6 (R/Front L/Fron R/Rear L/Rear + Trailer – 2nd car: R/Front, R/Rear)
Target Vehicle Make: Ford F550, White Box Van
Deploying Officer(s): Officer Rodriguez

Officer Rodriguez of the L.A. Police Department earned July’s Hit of the Month award. Specifically, he expertly used Stop Sticks during two separate pursuits.

Initially, Rodriguez responded to a call regarding a stolen utility vehicle and cement mixer. The suspect covered 27 miles before police authorized Stop Sticks. Ultimately, Rodriguez made three separate deployments, effectively disabling the vehicle. Subsequently, LAPD took the suspect into custody without incident.

Immediately afterward, and surprisingly, while returning to his agency, Rodriguez encountered a second pursuit. Thinking quickly, he grabbed his used Stop Sticks and subsequently deployed them. The high-speed suspect consequently hit the sticks, losing both driver-side tires. The suspect then bailed out on foot. However, officers quickly caught and arrested the second suspect.

Therefore, Rodriguez’s back-to-back success and strategic use of even used Stop Sticks showcases his remarkable skill and the product’s effectiveness.

Supporting Article:
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/police-pursue-stolen-truck-with-trailer-in-chatsworth/

Nominees

(Honorable Mention)Midwest

Narragansett Police Department
Narraganset, Rhode Island

# of tires deflated: 2 (L/Front L/Rear)
Pursuit Speed: 51-60 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 6 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1 Mile
Target Vehicle Make: 2005 Mini Cooper
Deploying Officer: Ofc. Brandon Gagnon

Ofc Lisewski earned a Nomination and an Honorable Mention for July’s Hit of the Month. Specifically, he made a Stop Stick® deployment during a pursuit involving a drunk/drugged driver. Crucially, the suspect was speeding directly toward a large festival.

Officer Gagnon’s report states that police initiated a pursuit for a subject. Initially, someone reported the suspect appeared drunk or high, driving erratically and speeding. The suspect nonetheless continued traveling as police pursued, at times hitting 100 MPH. To significantly complicate matters, a large festival was in town, and the suspect vehicle headed directly toward the event location.

Recognizing the severe, imminent risk, and consequently knowing they couldn’t let the pursuit get any closer to the festival and its attendees, Officer Gagnon deployed Stop Sticks. As a direct result, he successfully flattened both driver-side tires, effectively disabling the vehicle.

The suspect subsequently surrendered without any further incident. Police immediately discovered the individual was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Furthermore, police charged him with 11 additional offenses, including drunk driving, open container, and multiple other traffic-related charges.

South

Helfin Police Department
Heflin, Alabama

# of tires deflated: 2 (L/Front L/Rear)
Pursuit Speed: 71-80 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 5 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1
Target Vehicle Make: 2023 Nissan Altima
Deploying Officer: Carson Davis

Officer Davis’ Stop Stick Deployment earned the Helfin Police Department a nomination for July’s Hit of the Month. Significantly, we received this deployment through a video submission.

The pursuit originated from a drug-related traffic stop. However, the suspect flatly refused to comply, and therefore, police immediately initiated a pursuit.

In the video, the Nissan Altima weaves erratically in and out of rush-hour traffic on the Alabama Highway. As the vehicle approached an overpass, Officer Davis strategically deployed his Stop Sticks. Crucially, he used the cover of the overpass structure to shield himself. Consequently, the sticks successfully punctured and deflated both driver-side tires. The suspect, seeing as he only had two good tires remaining, finally gave up. Police successfully took him into custody without any further incident.

Midwest

Racine County Sheriff’s Office
Racine, Wisconsin

# of tires deflated: 1 (L/Rear)
Pursuit Speed: 100-110 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 10 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: 8
Target Vehicle Make: 2020 Infinity Q5
Deploying Officer: Turkowski

Deputy Turkowski of the Racine County Sheriff’s Department earned a Nomination for July’s Hit of the Month. Specifically, he deployed Stop Sticks during a high-speed pursuit of a vehicle stolen from Chicago.

The pursuit began after a deputy spotted the vehicle speeding. Deputies tried to stop the driver, but he immediately accelerated to 130 MPH. Moreover, the suspect turned off his lights to evade capture. Ironically, though, this move actually hindered his ability to see the Stop Sticks Deputy Turkowski had deployed.

Following the impact, the suspect tried to continue. Nevertheless, despite his effort, his rear tire failed completely. Consequently, he then fled on foot into a cornfield. Police quickly set a perimeter. Subsequently, after about an hour, police found and arrested the suspect. Upon inspection, deputies located a loaded gun and confirmed the car was recently stolen.

Supporting Article: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-police-chase-130-mph-speeds-vehicle-stolen

July 2023 Stop Stick: 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/home/pursuit-reporting

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