State Troopers Use Dangerous, Anti-Terror Tactic to Stop Car Chases

A dangerous technique that law enforcement officials nationwide use to stop police chases has come under scrutiny in Georgia.

The tactic, known as PIT, for Precision Immobilization Technique, calls for the pursuing officer to use his front bumper to touch the suspect’s rear bumper, which causes the car to spin and then come to a halt.

The tactic was originally developed in Germany and then adopted by the Fairfax County, VA, police department. Now, its widely taught as an anti-terrorist driving tactic to military and law enforcement agencies in the US.

But the Georgia State Patrol, according to The Intercept, has a vague PIT maneuver policy which has resulted in a number of injuries and deaths.

This past weekend, a Kennesaw man was thrown from his truck and killed while fleeing from police, who used the PIT maneuver, according to the AJC.

In May 2013, 21-year-old Thanquarius Calhoun of Henry County was fleeing from police on I-85 with two passengers in his car when intercepted by a Georgia State Patrol officer who used the PIT technique. After a 14-minute high speed chase, the trooper touched Calhoun’s bumper, which caused his car to spin out of control, go over an embankment and hit a tree. Calhoun was ejected and another friend was uninjured, but the third passenger, a 19-year-old girl, died in the crash.

Calhoun, with a criminal record and long history of fleeing from police, is now serving a life sentence in the girl’s death.

Since Georgia began using the technique, at least 28 people have been killed and 296 injured in related pursuits. The department’s policy does not specify a range of speeds in which the PIT can be safely used.

Read the rest of The Intercept’s story by clicking here.