New Tracking Dart System Deployed to Cut Off High-Speed Chases

MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y. -- The Livingston County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday demonstrated the newly-acquired StarChase GPS Pursuit Management System.

The state-of-the-art device fires a tracking dart that adheres to a vehicle being pursued. That allows the officer to back off and let the 911 dispatch center track the offending vehicle via satellite.

The idea behind the system is to eliminate high-speed chases to protect drivers and pedestrians.

"If you're not keeping up with technologies, then the criminals always are and so you're behind," said Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty. "If you want to be successful in law enforcement, you have to be proactive, you have to be looking at new technology and continuing with it."

The Livingston County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in New York state with this system. Each unit cost about $5,000.