November Hit of the Month 2022: Mahwah Township Police Department [NJ]

February 22, 2023

By: Zach Madden

Hit of the Month: November

October 2022 Hit of the Month :The winners and Nominees for Stop Stick’s Hit of the Month for October 2022.
October 2022 Hit of the Month: “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”.

October 2022 Hit of the Month Winner:

East

Mahwah Township Police Department
Mahwah, New Jersey

# of tires deflated: 2 (L_Front, L_Rear)
Pursuit Speed: 41-50 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 3 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: 2
Target Vehicle Make: 2022 BMW X7
Deploying Officer(s): PO Michael Dombroski

October 2022 Hit of the Month: PO Michael Dombroski’s Stop Stick deployment earned November’s Hit of the month resulting in the direct capture of individuals who had been involved in a string of vehicle thefts and break-ins.

Mahwah Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle inside a housing development recently plagued by thefts. Mahwah Police, who recently began implementing Stop Sticks, deployed two sets to the area.

A Mahwah officer located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. However, the vehicle sped away, and registration showed it was stolen from NYC. Officer Dombroski, already in place, deployed his Stop Sticks along the suspects’ only escape route. As the suspects approached the exit, Dombroski pulled the sticks, hitting both driver-side tires.

The suspects initially accelerated but their speeds dropped dramatically while entering the highway. Consequently, approximately one mile later, the vehicle pulled over. Pursuing officers located and took all occupants into custody without incident. Further investigation revealed the suspects had committed a recent burglary; police returned all items to the rightful owner.

We chose Mahwah Township Police Department as November’s Hit of the Month winner. Officer Dombroski’s deployment led to the immediate capture of suspects involved in a string of thefts and burglaries, more so this was Mahwah’s first deployment of Stop Sticks, which resulted in them equipping their entire force.

Nominees

WEST

Bakersfield Police Department
Bakersfield, California

# of tires deflated: 3
Pursuit Speed: 51-60 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 5 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1
Target Vehicle Make: 2021 Toyota Corolla
Deploying Officer: Anthony Berument

Officer Berument’s Stop Stick deployment is believed to have targeted a vehicle involved in a larger sideshow that shut down a major Bakersfield intersection. The suspect was wanted for assault and theft. Officer Berument successfully ended the suspect’s pursuit with Stop Stick$^{\circledR}$. Specifically, the device deflated three of the vehicle’s tires, causing the suspect to give up less than a mile after encountering the deployment.

South

Collier County Sheriff’s Office
Naples, Florida

# of tires deflated: 1
Pursuit Speed: 71-80 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 38 Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: 5
Target Vehicle Make: Honda CRV
Deploying Officer: Deputy Pursley

Deputy Pursley deployed Stop Sticks after the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) called for assistance with a felony stop. Dispatch had notified Pursley that FHP located a vehicle involved in a robbery, and needed Collier County Sheriff Deputies’ assistance because the suspects were potentially armed and dangerous.

While in position, Deputy Pursley received orders to deploy the Stop Sticks regardless of an attempted stop. As FHP caught up with the vehicle, they attempted an unsuccessful traffic stop. Consequently, FHP called out to terminate the pursuit due to public safety concerns.

However, as FHP backed off, Deputy Pursley identified the suspects’ car approaching his location. He pulled his Stop Sticks in front of the vehicle, puncturing the front driver-side tire. After communicating the successful deployment, Deputy Pursley proceeded to the termination site to help set up a perimeter and search for the suspects, who had fled on foot.

Midwest (Honorable Mention)

Red Oak Police Department
Red Oak, Iowa

# of tires deflated: 4
Pursuit Speed: 100-110 MPH
Time of Pursuit: 2Minutes
Miles Traveled after deployment: < 1
Target Vehicle Make: 2019 Kia Rio
Deploying Officer: Officer Ryan Johnson

Officer Johnson:” Perfect placement of Stop Sticks to flatten all 4 tires. The vehicle traveled less than a quarter mile before becoming disabled. All officers, citizens, and suspects were safe due to the use of Stop Stick.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies arrested four people, including three juveniles, after a high-speed pursuit. The chase began when the suspect vehicle fled a traffic stop attempted by deputies for speeding.

As the vehicle approached the city of Red Oak, Officer Johnson positioned himself and deployed Stop Sticks. Consequently, just as the vehicle entered city limits, the 12-foot sleeved spikes flattened all the tires. Less than a mile later, pursuing deputies stopped the suspects and brought all occupants into custody.

Police booked three juveniles for Second-Degree Theft, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Felony Eluding. One of these three also had an outstanding theft warrant. Police booked a second juvenile for Interference with Official Acts and Providing False Information, and they also held a warrant for assault and eluding. Police booked the third juvenile for Interference with Official Acts, noting that authorities had listed them as a missing person.

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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