"I would like to tell you how impressed I am with the equipment that we have purchased from your company October 14th 2005.

We have run several test runs with it and it has worked extremely well. We are a small agency located in the county seat and often have other agencies run vehicles to our city. The safety of our officers is the most important thing, and this tool takes it all the way. Thank you for making Law Enforcement a safer place to work. "

"Police chases present a significant danger to the public and the officers that initiate them. The development of the Stop-Stick presented the law enforcement community with a tool that can be used to quickly terminate a chase and lessen the hazard to all those involved or those persons potentially placed in danger due the irresponsible acts of the violator. Each year, several law enforcement officers are severely injured or killed while manually deploying the Stop-Stick. The development of the Safety Stopper device has provided yet another tool for officers to use to quickly terminate a police chase. The Safety Stopper device may seem rather "James Bond", but it is an ingenious device that enhances the safety of the officer (s) by allowing the deployment of the Stop-Stick from inside of the police vehicle.

As an agency chief executive, I believe that is my responsibility to evaluate new equipment that will provide a safer working environment for my officers. I believe when technology, regardless of its complexity or simplicity, is used for the betterment of officer safety we are fulfilling our obligation to those who work to protect our citizens, as well as, those we are obligated to protect. I am confident that even if the Safety Stopper device is not used regularly that officers will find some comfort in knowing they will be able to significantly reduce the danger presented to them, their colleagues, and the public by having the ability to end a high speed chase within the safe confines of their police vehicle. "

" August 9, 2006 Contact: Marian OBriant Telephone: 273-5110 Cell Phone: 755-8640 Pager: 330-4807 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Knoxville man evades arrest, deputies deploy Stop Sticks Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said today that deputies deployed Stop Sticks late Monday night to successfully end a pursuit that started in Blount County and ended in Knox County. Bobby ONeil Sharp, Jr., 26, Fairmont Boulevard, Knoxville, is being held at the Blount County Detention Facility on bonds totaling $60,000 on charges including possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to resale (methadone), evading arrest, and three counts of felony reckless endangerment. Sharp will face his charges in Blount County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. August 16. A Blount County Sheriffs deputy was attempting to make a traffic stop for a registration violation on a Chevrolet Cavalier on Airport Highway at around 11:30 p.m. Monday. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of Ken Jo Market, drove through the lot, and continued onto Alcoa Highway. An additional deputy joined the pursuit into Knox County. The Cavalier exited onto John Sevier Highway, and jumped the median, almost wrecking. The vehicle then continued into oncoming traffic. The lead deputy was able to maneuver his vehicle in front of the Cavalier and deployed his Stop Sticks from the inside of his vehicle. The Stop Sticks are encased in a box mounted on the undercarriage of the patrol vehicle. The Cavalier struck the Stop Sticks, causing the right front tire and rear tires to flatten. The Cavalier continued on John Sevier Highway, and was boxed in by the two pursuing cruisers. The vehicle turned into a driveway, where he was taken into custody by the two deputies. No one was injured during the pursuit, and a female passenger was not taken into custody. During a search incident to arrest, several methadone tablets were found. Sharp also has eight active warrants out of Sevier County, one active warrant out of Knox County, and he was also served with an attachment for contempt by Blount County for driving on a suspended license. The Sheriffs Office installed 20 Stop Stick devices in the patrol vehicles of supervisors and the Traffic Safety Unit in the winter of 2006. Monday nights incident marks the first deployment of the Stop Sticks. The Stop Sticks are deployed from the inside of the vehicle for the safety of the officer. # # # "