New gizmo to help MLPD reduce pursuits

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department will soon be getting a new technology that will aid officers in reducing high-speed chases and help in better locating and apprehending suspects.

The Moses Lake City Council unanimously accepted a $7,100 Risk Reduction Grant from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA) to purchase a StarChase Pursuit Management System. The system is a newer technology that was designed to reduce the number of high-speed chases police departments are involved in, according to the city.

The new gizmo is a mobile unit that is mounted outside of a patrol vehicle, in the grille area of the car. In the event of a pursuit, when an officer gets close to a fleeing vehicle they have the ability, using the StarChase system, to launch a projectile onto the vehicle.

“That projectile is a GPS unit. It’s attached to the vehicle. The police officer can back off,” Deputy City Manager Gilbert Alvarado explained, “thus reducing the liability of a high-speed chase. And our guys can find them because of this GPS unit.”

StarChase’s website explained that the system is threefold:

Tag: A compressed-air launcher is mounted behind the grille of a police vehicle and a laser is used to target the fleeing vehicle. The GPS “tag” is then deployed onto the fleeing vehicle.

Track: Dispatch is able to view the location and movements of the fleeing vehicle in real time.

Apprehend: Police are able to reduce risk and locate and apprehend the suspect.

Alvarado said the department will be purchasing two StarChase systems and included in the deal will be a supply of practice projectiles for officers to train with. The systems are expected to be installed in mid-April, according to Chief Kevin Fuhr.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.