News
Stop Pursuits Before They Happen. – Pursuit Prevention from Stop Stick
April 15, 2022
By: Zach Madden
Category: Stop Stick Products
Policies on pursuits and tactics can vary significantly across law enforcement agencies; however, Policies on pursuits and tactics can vary significantly across law enforcement agencies; however, everyone can agree that the best way to stop a pursuit is to prevent it from happening altogether. In today’s times when concern on the road has increased because of rising DUI/DWIs and the opioid abuse epidemic,1 the need for pursuit prevention tools and techniques has grown. The number of overdose deaths from prescription or illegal opioids has increased by five times in the last 17 years.2 In 2016 alone, more than 42,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose.2 As these trends pose increased risks for officers today, the IACP Drug Issues Symposium urges law enforcement leaders to keep officers up to date on not only the newest drug trends but also the latest products and processes for the safety of their communities.
Fortunately, there are tools and techniques to facilitate better control of high-risk stop situations and fortunately, there are tools and techniques to facilitate better control of high-risk stop situations and to help prevent pursuits from occurring. These tools can be used by departments with or without no-pursuit policies. “By stopping pursuits before they start, officers can potentially save lives, better protect the safety of the community and even reduce property damage,” explains Adam Freeman, National Sales Director for Law Enforcement at Stop Stick Ltd.
“THE BEST WAY TO STOP A PURSUIT IST TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING”
Here are a few tips for stopping pursuits before they start in high-risk situations:
Assess and determine if flight may occur.
Preventing pursuits begins by immediately recognizing and identifying situations where pursuits could potentially occur. Preventing pursuits begins by immediately recognizing and identifying situations where pursuits could potentially occur. Common situations may include, but are not limited to:
• Targeting individuals where drug abuse is involved. With today’s growing opioid epidemic, concern about drug use and road safety is a priority everywhere, according to the World Health Organization.4 Targeting drugged driving is a key law enforcement strategy for identifying individuals with drug addictions and increasing the safety of roads and communities, according to the IACP Drug Issues Symposium3. However, risks and threats in these situations can quickly escalate.
• Stops for DUI/DWI, particularly when the driver is passed out. In these cases, the driver may step on the gas or release the brake when awakened or startled, thus initiating the need for pursuit.
• Serving arrest warrants. This is a prime situation where the suspect may attempt to flee using a vehicle.
Take discreet or overt action, depending on what the situation warrants.
Portable pursuit prevention tools give officers the option to reduce risk. Effective tire-deflation devices can be placed in portable pursuit prevention tools to give officers the option to reduce risk. Effective tire-deflation devices can be placed in the tire’s path while the vehicle is stationary. These tools are easy to deploy with or without the suspect knowing, with little risk to the officer. Simply realizing a prevention device is in place has often deterred a suspect from attempting to flee, according to David Schofield, a lieutenant with the Cincinnati Police Department, whose team uses several devices from the makers of Stop Stick®.
Become familiar with the portable pursuit prevention tools available.
There are several innovative tools from the makers of the world’s leading tire-deflation device, Stop Stick®, that can be used there are several innovative tools from the makers of the world’s leading tire-deflation device, Stop Stick®, that can be used to mitigate or minimize pursuits, thereby safeguarding the community and law enforcement professionals. These include:
Terminator® and Patrol Terminator® — In high-risk stop situations, such as DUI/DWI, or whenever the officer senses the need, the Patrol Terminator (17 inches) or slightly longer Terminator (24 inches) can eliminate the subject’s ability to flee, giving officers a preemptive advantage. Self-righting end caps allow officers to deploy either device easily without taking their eyes off the situation. Originally designed for the U.S. Customs Service, these tools, which weigh only 2 pounds, can offer added control for traffic stops, DUI stops, drug raids, or serving warrants.
Piranha® — This compact, easy-to-deploy tire-deflation device provides convenient, covert control in any situation where there is a potential for subject flight, such as serving a warrant, DUI/DWI, or traffic stops. At just over 3 inches in length and weighing only 5.2 ounces, Piranha requires little space for storage and can be safely carried and discreetly or overtly deployed.
Numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the country have used these similar devices to successfully minimize numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the country have used these similar devices to successfully minimize pursuits.
“After several high-risk pursuits in early 2016, the [Cincinnati PD] Gang Enforcement Squad outfitted all vehicles with Stop“After several high-risk pursuits in early 2016, the [Cincinnati PD] Gang Enforcement Squad outfitted all vehicles with StopStick, Terminator, and Piranha devices,” says Schofield. “We now deploy the devices prior to initiating traffic stops on known felons. This strategy has reduced the frequency and danger of traffic pursuits and enhanced our ability to apprehend dangerous felony offenders. We have yet to have a suspect escape following successful deployment of a Stop Stick device.”
For more information on the Terminator®, Patrol Terminator®, Piranha® or other devices from the makers of market-leading Stop Stick®, call 800-537-0102 or visit www.stopstick.com.