News
June Hit of the Month: Fairfield Police Department, Connecticut
October 5, 2022
By: Zach Madden
Category: Stop Stick Hit of the Month
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”.
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 were able to utilize Stop Stick to bring an end to a lengthy pursuit involving 2 juveniles in a stolen Honda Civic.
The pursuit started after an unmarked Fairfield Police vehicle ran the suspect vehicle’s information and discovered the vehicle had recently been reported stolen from a violent carjacking incident.
When a marked Fairfield Patrol vehicle attempted to initiate a traffic stop the driver chose to flee at a high rate. Fairfield officers quickly deployed Stop Stick to stop the fleeing stolen vehicle flattening 3 of the vehicle’s tires. The suspect refusing to give up turned the vehicle on to the entrance ramp for I-95 and continued to flee, but due to the vehicles flattened tires the suspect was forced to drive at a drastically reduced speed. As the vehicle continued northbound another Fairfield Police officer was in position with another set of Stop Sticks deployed. As the vehicle continued the Fairfield officer was able to puncture the vehicles last remaining tire. The suspects continued to attempt to flee, however due to the car’s deflated tires the suspects were not able to maintain control of the vehicle, opting to dich the vehicle in a grass median on the highway. After short foot pursuit officers were able to apprehend the 2 juvenile suspects without further incident. As officers searched the stolen vehicle, they discovered 2 9mm pistols without serial numbers, extended magazines, and over an ounce of narcotics. The juveniles were arrested and are facing charges of first-degree larceny, Illegal transfer of a stolen pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit, Illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm and high-capacity magazine, possession with intent to distribute heroin or Meth, and many more charges.
Cindy, Spencer, and I have Nominated Officer Tom Gorton, and Det. Michael Colwell as June’s Hit of the Month recipients. Their intervention with Stop Stick lead to the direct capture of two young and violent individuals who posed a direct threat to the public. Their use of stop sticks proved to bring a safe end to what could have been an even longer pursuit.
Michigan Troopers with the assistance of Lansing PD, Livingston Co., and Oakland Co. Deputies managed to capture all 9 of the suspects shortly after they bailed out on foot. Not long after the fifth Stolen Camaro, was located by another nearby agency and was arrested.
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.
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 2 individuals that had fled from Fargo Police 2 times in the previous two days. The pursuit had been initiated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office who had previously attempted to stop the suspects with Stop Stick flattening 3 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 and allow an unmarked Fargo Police Department vehicle to tail the suspects as the continued to flee at a slow speed. Officer Seehusen got in position and deployed Stop Stick one last time and was able to flatten the suspects last remaining tire, The suspects to shake the pursuing officers now drove the vehicle through road construction barriers, only to get the car stuck in the mud. The suspects attempted to flee on foot but were quickly caught. 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/home/pursuit-reporting