Broome County Sheriff Unveils Innovative Device For Safer Pursuits

Minimizing the risks during vehicle pursuits has been put to the forefront by the Broome County Sheriff's Office.

February 3, 2026, Sheriff Fred Akshar and the department's Road Patrol announced a new tool that will help minimize risk during vehicle pursuits and aid in the apprehension of fleeing suspects.

What Is The StarChase GPS Tool?

The device is a StarChase GPS tool. This tool deploys an adhesive GPS tag onto the vehicle of a fleeing suspect. According to Sheriff Akshar, when the tool attaches to a suspect’s vehicle, deputies will be able to track the vehicle tactically and safely as they coordinate apprehension.

The StarChase GPS tool will reduce the risks associated with high-speed vehicle pursuits.

Watch Sheriff Akshar Explain The New Technology At the Bottom Of This Article

Our Sheriff’s deputies always put the safety of our community’s families first, especially when it comes to pursuing fleeing suspects in Broome County. We are always forward-thinking in our approach to public safety, and GPS technology is yet another tool to help our men and women safely and effectively serve and protect our community. - Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar

How Does The StarChase GPS Tool Work?

According to the announcement, it employs a low-velocity projectile containing a GPS tag, which can be launched mid-pursuit by law enforcement and attached to the fleeing vehicle.

The StarChase GPS tool provides the Broome County Road Patrols with live data, including the vehicle's speed, direction, and location.

This GPS tag works as a ‘virtual helicopter’ to assist patrols, providing live data to help law enforcement bring pursuits to an end quickly and safely.  The data is also available to emergency dispatchers and can be shared with assisting agencies and other first responders. - Broome County Sheriff’s Office Captain Ben Harting

It's essential to note that while this is a highly effective tool, it will be utilized only in pursuits that commence when the pursuing deputy has probable cause to believe wrongdoing has occurred.

After the suspect has been apprehended, deputies will remove the tool. Any other uses of GPS tracking technology outside the heat of a pursuit would require a warrant, according to the announcement.

This new tool has already been put to use, according to Sheriff Akshar. During a vehicle pursuit on January 29, 2026, this is how the StarChase GPS tool worked in the field:

The suspect had allegedly stolen a vehicle in Syracuse before getting into an accident with three other motor vehicles. The suspect then assaulted and carjacked an individual, fleeing in the victim’s pickup truck south on I-81.

Broome County Sheriff’s SRG unit located the stolen truck and successfully deployed a StarChase GPS tracker onto it. The tracker helped SRG coordinate with Road Patrol deputies to successfully deploy a Stopstick tire deflation device on the truck, ending the pursuit.

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