Mooresville Police Turn To GPS Tags To Curb High-Speed Chases

MOORESVILLE, NC — Mooresville Police Department is deploying a trial of new technology that it says will cut down on high-speed pursuits of fleeing suspects.

The StarChase mounted system will be installed in the grill of several MPD patrol cars, allowing officers to launch and affix GPS-enabled tags on the rear of suspects' vehicles, allowing for real-time tracking.

Mooresville police are the first in the state using the technology, according to MPD Chief Ron Campurciani.

"When a pursuit or drive-off seems imminent, officers can deploy a Vehicle Mounted GPS launcher tag from their patrol vehicle instead of engaging in a high-speed pursuit. The vehicle data can then be monitored by law enforcement, even across jurisdictional boundaries," MPD said in a statement.

A video of the GPS launcher in action may be found here.

"This system will allow us to back off from high-speed chases, thereby saving lives and
reducing damage to vehicles,” MPD Chief Ron Campurciani said in a statement. “It is a much safer alternative and gives us the ability to make an arrest or apprehension without danger to
the public or the officers. In my opinion, it is a win/win situation.”

MPD will consider purchasing more mounted units if command staff feels the trial is a success, Campurciani said. “Although the technology has been around for eight or nine years, we are the first law enforcement agency in North Carolina to have it,” he added.

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