A $16,000 grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s office is paying for most of two new crime-fighting tools for the Countryside Police Department.
The City Council approved the purchase of two Star Chase GPS Vehicle Mounted Launcher Systems for the department at its Oct. 14 meeting.
The pair costs $17,448. With the state grant, the city’s share is $1,448.
“We budgeted for it,” Police Chief Paul Klimek told the city council, which voted unanimoulsy for the purchase.
The system helps officers pursuing a vehicle suspected of being used in a crime.
When aimed at a vehicle, the launcher fires a magnetic device that sticks to the metal of the trunk. The device emits a signal that lets officers track the vehicle’s location during high-speed pursuits.
“It does work. The tip is like an adhesive and a magnet. The tip heats up to make the adhesive work better. The officer presses a button, it shoots out and it sticks,” Klimek said.
Asked how the system handles extreme cold or wet weather, if the device sticks to the vehicle, Klimek said, “It works fairly well.” Warmer, drier weather produces better results.
The department first bought the tracking system several years ago, and Klimek said it has been used successfully.