Starchase Pilot Program

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this order is to provide guidelines for the proper use of Starchase technology during the Starchase Pilot Program (SPP). Proper use of Starchase technology can reduce the need for enforcement options that may result in dangerous actions by criminal suspects and place the public, the suspect(s), and department personnel in danger. Starchase technology allows department personnel to remotely affix a Global Positioning System (GPS) device to vehicles prior to initiating the contact, if possible, if there is a likelihood that the suspect vehicle will attempt to elude or evade when an enforcement stop is attempted.

Once the tag is deployed, department personnel can track the vehicle through GPS technology in order to facilitate a tactically sound and advantageous apprehension of the suspect vehicle and occupant(s).

II. POLICY

A. Only members trained in the use and deployment of Starchase technology shall be permitted to deploy it in the SPP. 

B. Deployment of Starchase technology 

1. Starchase technology shall only be deployed on vehicles that have been reported stolen, have felony wants, are listed in an Amber Alert, or whose occupant(s) have just committed a public offense or are actively committing a public offense.
2. Deployment of Starchase technology should, when possible, be attempted when the suspect vehicle is static (not in motion). In the event a vehicle pursuit is occurring, members shall comply with DGO 5.05 during any deployment of Starchase technology.
3. Upon deployment of Starchase technology, the deploying unit shall be responsible for advising units in the area of the status and coordinating a tactically sound and advantageous apprehension of the outstanding suspect(s) and vehicle to the best of their ability. Members should consider that a suspect vehicle may travel through multiple districts before the conditions are such that an apprehension can be attempted.
4. Starchase technology is to be utilized to facilitate the contemporaneous apprehension of the suspect vehicle and occupant(s). Deployment of Starchase technology surveillance beyond that required for contemporaneous apprehension is prohibited.

Ill. POST-USE PROCEDURE

A. The deploying unit shall complete a report or statement regarding the deployment of Starchase technology, whether or not the deployment was successful. The narrative or statement shall indicate:

• The specific location of the deployment
• Identify who deployed the Starchase technology 

• If there was any damage caused by the deployment.

  The deploying unit shall also be responsible for collecting the GPS tag from the suspect vehicle. In the event that the GPS tag becomes detached or removed, the deploying unit shall respond to the last tracked location and attempt to recover the device if it is safe to do so. Members should not endanger themselves or the public in an attempt to recover a Starchase GPS tag from a freeway or other dangerous traffic area.

B. All incident reports involving the deployment of Starchase technology whether successful or not shall be forwarded to the Field Operations Bureau Lieutenant overseeing plainclothes operations and the Officer-in-Charge of the Strategic Investigations Unit. 

C. If a pursuit summary is completed, the successful deployment of Starchase Technology shall be included. 

D. In the event deployment of Starchase technology caused damage to private property, members shall comply with the Reporting Property Damage Caused by Members policy.