Independence police are putting criminals on notice. Police have a new device that will help them track-down criminals trying to escape in a vehicle with less danger to the public and police.
The device is called StarChase and it uses GPS technology to track the suspect's car so police can discontinue chasing the vehicle.
The Independence Police Department is the first to use the new technology. Police pursuing a vehicle deploy a tracking device which hits the suspect vehicle.
Police dispatchers can track the vehicle and tell police where it's going. Police can then track the vehicle from a safe distance without endangering the public with high-speed pursuits.
"It is the policy of the Independence Police Department to conduct vehicle pursuits as safely as possible, keeping the safety of the public as our highest priority," said John Syme, public information officer for the Independence Police Department.
The department has used the StarChase device several times and made several arrests.
"We can also use the device to tag a vehicle when we have a warrant or reason to believe that a suspect is going to try to getaway--avoiding a chase entirely and still apprehending the fleeing suspect," said Syme.
StarChase provides pursuit management and GPS tracking technology to public safety and government agencies.
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Cynthia Newsome can be reached at Cynthia.Newsome@kshb.com.
