Police Technology: A Game-Changer in Pursuing Criminals
It’s amazing to see where we’ve come: Suburban burglary suspects apprehended after police deploy tracking dart
Suburban Police Stopped Burglary in Progress, Leading to Pursuit on Eisenhower Expressway
Authorities in the west suburbs stopped a burglary in progress on Thursday morning, leading to a police pursuit on the Eisenhower Expressway, but officers were eventually able to catch the two suspects thanks to the help of a police tracking dart.
The GPS tracking dart, called "Star Chase," is a small device that is having a big impact on police pursuits. Oak Brook police said they are using the tracking darts on a nearly weekly basis. Other suburban departments like Elmhurst and Willow Brook have them too, and now some Chicago Aldermen are showing interest in getting the technology for CPD.
Police Chief’s Remark on Advancements in Technology
"If you would have told me, I started 24 years ago, that we’d be shooting GPS darts out of the front of a squad car, I would have said that you’re crazy, you know, but technology is advancing so much, especially in law enforcement, that it’s, it’s amazing to see where we’ve come," Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said.
How the Tracking Dart Works
At around 4:45 a.m. on Thursday, officers in Oak Park arrested two suspects who allegedly fled from Elmhurst to Oak Park on I-290 after breaking into a liquor store. Neighboring police agencies were alerted, and an officer from Oak Brook was able to get behind the fleeing vehicle to deploy the GPS tracking dart, which shoots out of the front of a squad car’s bumper.
An officer presses a button, and the dart heats up an epoxy for the actual dart. The dart has a GPS tracking device inside and a strong magnet that shoots out of the front of the bumper and affixes itself to the back of the fleeing vehicle. The officer can then back off, pull up a computer screen, and track the location of the car being pursued.
Successes and Future Plans
During Thursday’s pursuit, the GPS information was relayed to Oak Park police after the vehicle exited at Austin, leading to the suspects’ arrests. Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean said, "We can stop police pursuits sooner, keep the motoring public safer while still apprehending dangerous criminals."
In 2020, a pursuit from the south suburbs ended in a deadly crash on Chicago’s North Side, resulting in the death of an innocent bystander. It led to changes to CPD’s police pursuit policy.
The police and fire committee are interested in Chicago police potentially using the technology. Each unit costs about $7,000. If we put them on 100 cars and it costs us $70,000, and we save a lot of money because of it, then it was well worth it, you know. One settlement, we don’t have many settlements that are in the tens or twenty thousand, of course we only get stuff 100,00 or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the tracking dart work?
A: An officer presses a button, and the dart heats up an epoxy for the actual dart. The dart has a GPS tracking device inside and a strong magnet that shoots out of the front of the bumper and affixes itself to the back of the fleeing vehicle.
Q: How often are the tracking darts used?
A: Oak Brook police use the tracking darts on a nearly weekly basis.
Q: Are other suburban departments using the technology?
A: Yes, other suburban departments like Elmhurst and Willow Brook have the technology as well.
Q: Is there a plan to implement the technology for Chicago police?
A: The police and fire committee are interested in Chicago police potentially using the technology, but it is still under consideration.
