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Iowa State Patrol testing 'GPS cannons'
Fox News ^ | November 21, 2013 | Dan Springer

Posted on 11/22/2013 1:09:12 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

When police decide to chase a fleeing suspect, the result can be deadly. Someone is killed each day in a high speed pursuit. And it’s frequently not the bad guy. Innocent motorists make up 42 percent of those killed. It’s got cops around the country re-writing pursuit policies and looking for alternatives.

“I’m always constantly worried about that innocent person who’s gonna get struck,” says Iowa State Trooper Tim Sielman.

That’s why the Iowa State Patrol is now experimenting with the latest gadget aimed at reducing the number of pursuits. It’s a mini air cannon that mounts on the patrol car’s push bar. It fires a GPS device that’s designed to stick to the back of the fleeing vehicle. The officer can then lay back at a safe speed and distance and track the suspect by satellite....

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; iowa
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1 posted on 11/22/2013 1:09:12 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I am sure the cops are going to like this! Sounds like a lot of fun!


2 posted on 11/22/2013 1:22:18 AM PST by rawhide
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Made me think of the scene from Star Wars where Obi Wan throws a little tracking transmitter and it sticks to Boba Fet’s spaceship...lol


3 posted on 11/22/2013 1:28:05 AM PST by Bobalu (Ted Cruz was right and his star now shines bright)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Headline of tomorrow: paperwomen driving truck killed by GPS tag headshot.


4 posted on 11/22/2013 1:57:01 AM PST by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free..... Even robots will kill for it!)
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To: rawhide

As long as they get to shoot the fleeing suspect full of holes when it’s all over, they’ll be happy. Bonus points if his dog is in the car of course.


5 posted on 11/22/2013 2:31:00 AM PST by RC one
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I saw a TV report on this. Pretty neat, but very expensive ($5000 per each unit installed)....shoots out of the front bumper behind a flap door.

It looks like the cop has to get about 20-25’ from the perp to fire it.


6 posted on 11/22/2013 2:47:33 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer
It looks like the cop has to get about 20-25’ from the perp to fire it.

So, the cops gotta chase the guy so he don't have to chase him anymore? Got it.

7 posted on 11/22/2013 2:54:28 AM PST by raybbr (I weep over my sons' future in this Godforsaken country.)
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To: raybbr

It looked like that on the TV spot. Get close, then back off. It did not seem like a ‘round’ that could do too much harm if it hit a person in the torso.


8 posted on 11/22/2013 2:58:06 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer

This is not the same TV report, but you can get the gist of what it does. They say in this spot the cost is $250 each and good for one use. This is just for the projectile.
The tracking stuff and launcher are in the other range I mentioned.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57609416-71/police-firing-gps-tracking-bullets-at-cars-during-chases/


9 posted on 11/22/2013 3:03:55 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer
pretty neat until the perp realizing he's been tagged, carjacks an innocent family

No disrespect meant but this is a stupid idea

10 posted on 11/22/2013 3:23:10 AM PST by Revelation 911 (if "meat is murder" what is abortion?)
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To: Revelation 911

I think they are counting on something like a rear bumper type hit that doesn’t make noise above the road noise. But, as shown in the video, the unit landed on the rear deck lid and likely could be seen in the rear view mirror.


11 posted on 11/22/2013 3:25:31 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; laplata; All

Great idea!


12 posted on 11/22/2013 3:30:33 AM PST by Graewoulf (Democrats' Obamacare Socialist Health Insur. Tax violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: Darksheare

Looks kinda like a Claymore.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5082788.stm


13 posted on 11/22/2013 3:31:00 AM PST by FBD (My carbon footprint is bigger than yours)
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To: Gaffer

Just what’s needed. Another gadget in the patrol car to distract the driver.


14 posted on 11/22/2013 3:53:24 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: R. Scott

I can’t argue with that.


15 posted on 11/22/2013 4:00:44 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Somehow spending $5000 to tag a vehicle so that you can write him a speeding ticket for $500 seems to be not cost effective. I guess they will make up for the cost with volume.


16 posted on 11/22/2013 4:24:08 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Democrats believe in a two-party system—the masters and the slaves.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is just one of many reasons why our masters want GPS tracking on EVERY car.


17 posted on 11/22/2013 4:27:06 AM PST by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.)
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To: Revelation 911

Yeah, once they realize this vehicle has been tagged it will take them only seconds to jack another. If they are desperate enough, they shoot/kill that driver so when the cops show up to collect the tagged vehicle there is no conscious witness to tell them what vehicle the prep now has. Seems to me this is a complex and expensive solution that will only work when a whole lot of stars align. Lots and lots of ways for this to go wrong.


18 posted on 11/22/2013 5:35:08 AM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: ThunderSleeps

Don’t you have to chase the perp to get close enough to attach the sticky thing?


19 posted on 11/22/2013 5:51:35 AM PST by refermech
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To: ThunderSleeps

They’ll simply pull it off or wrap it in aluminum foil... maybe stick it on another car.


20 posted on 11/22/2013 5:53:02 AM PST by Neidermeyer (I used to be disgusted , now I try to be amused.)
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