In a bid to increase safety during vehicular pursuits, the Raleigh Police Department is gearing up to implement a new GPS tracking system, StarChase. The technology, which allows for a less hazardous alternative to high-speed chases, was spotlighted at a recent Raleigh City Council meeting where the council approved the acceptance of a hefty donation aimed at reducing the potential risk to citizens and law enforcement alike.
The Raleigh Police Department Foundation has stepped forward with a donation of $174,620 to facilitate the acquisition of the StarChase trackers, reported raleighnc.gov. This generosity will outfit twenty patrol vehicles with technology capable of tagging and tracking vehicles that try to flee from a traffic stop, without the need for a perilous chase. The donation paves the way for a significant shift in how police pursuits are handled, potentially curtailing the number of dangerous high-speed incidents on the road.
Understanding the workings of the system reveals its value. StarChase technology employs adhesive-backed GPS tags that, once deployed, adhere to the exterior of a suspect's vehicle. A launcher mounted on police patrol vehicles propels the device that sticks to the car in question. Once attached, the tag transmits real-time location updates back to the police department’s command center. This enables the command center to coordinate officers’ movements, guiding them to the suspect's location without the inherent danger of a high speed pursuit.
