By: John Clark
ROCKFORD,
Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police patrol cars may soon gain the ability to
launch magnetized GPS tracking devices to assist officers in high-speed
vehicle pursuits.
The City of Rockford is planning to enter into a contract with a Virginia-based company called StarChase to install its vehicle-mounted GPS launchers on patrol cars.
Carol Jaworowski, the Police Department’s financial analyst, said the “budgeted expenditure is being requested based on the need for technology-based tracking and apprehension of suspects and vehicles that are involved in law enforcement pursuits.”
According to StarChase, the Guardian-VX GPS launcher mounts to the front of a patrol car and can fire a GPS tracking tag to adhere to a suspect’s vehicle and communicate its position back to authorities in real-time.
“Law enforcement can then plan and coordinate an informed tactical response to make a safe arrest while maintaining community and officer safety,” according to the company.
The police department also plans to purchase the Guardian-HX handheld GPS tag launcher.
The proposal comes up for an approval vote at Tuesday night’s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting.
The system is expected to cost the city $125,888.
The City of Rockford is planning to enter into a contract with a Virginia-based company called StarChase to install its vehicle-mounted GPS launchers on patrol cars.
Carol Jaworowski, the Police Department’s financial analyst, said the “budgeted expenditure is being requested based on the need for technology-based tracking and apprehension of suspects and vehicles that are involved in law enforcement pursuits.”
According to StarChase, the Guardian-VX GPS launcher mounts to the front of a patrol car and can fire a GPS tracking tag to adhere to a suspect’s vehicle and communicate its position back to authorities in real-time.
“Law enforcement can then plan and coordinate an informed tactical response to make a safe arrest while maintaining community and officer safety,” according to the company.
The police department also plans to purchase the Guardian-HX handheld GPS tag launcher.
The proposal comes up for an approval vote at Tuesday night’s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting.
The system is expected to cost the city $125,888.
