GPS tracking devices as effective for the PD of Newington, but civil rights and legal groups are crowded -NBC Connecticut

Police departments in Connecticut use GPS devices that have been brought onto the market by their crossers to pursue suspicious vehicles that flee without having to hunt them, but not everyone is for the new technology.

“When it is activated, a small laser is broadcast so that you can put it in sight,” said Sgt. Matthew d'Sposito at the Newington Police Department.

Police technology should prevent activities.

“Allows us to solve us from persecution, but still keep an eye on this vehicle to resume it when it comes to a stop,” said D'Sposito.

The tracking devices from the company -Starchase remove the need to pursue a vehicle without impairing possible arrest.

“Think outside the box and examine for opportunities to clear up these concerns,” he said.

Newington has been using the devices for several years and will point out that they were used in a series of arrests, including the arrest of two people, which were assumed that they were only involved in theft in cities around Connecticut last month.

Other departments such as New Haven have shown the technology in action in the past.

From shopping times to stolen vehicles, they said that the devices work for their department so that they can achieve a balance.

“The difficulty of liability to pursue a vehicle in line with the benefits for the municipality to capture the suspect they are looking for,” said D'Sposito.

The darts themselves start with compressed air and have an adhesive on one side so that it can be attached to the back of a vehicle. Pings pings every few seconds and enables the dispatcher or the official to follow.

The idea of ​​tracking a vehicle without an arrest or without the driver has increased a strong opposition from some legal groups and civil rights organizations.

The Chief Public Defender office testified on a legislative template that a pilot program would have created for three departments in Connecticut. The office is against the use of the technology and sometimes says: “There is simply no question that it is unconstitutional that an official starts an GPS system without an arrest warrant on a GPS system or placed on another vehicle.”

Connecticut's ACLU was also rejected.

“The expansion of the police powers in this way not only invites you to abuse, but also suspicion that many municipalities, especially black, brown, immigrants, LGBTQIA+and we are weak, feel good for law enforcement. Possibilities for monitoring state surveillance, said Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez, Public Politics and Advocacy Director at Connecticut ACLU.

But some experts do not agree.

“I think it's no question of how it is used in Connecticut, but I can understand why some people feel uncomfortable to be persecuted,” said Michael Lawlor from the University of New Haven.

Lawlor refers to a case of the Supreme Court from 2012, which decided against the use of the trackers. In this case, the device was attached to the day after an arrest warrant has ended and was switched on for 28 days.

He said he believed in Connecticut that the police only use the devices if they have a probable reason under extremely circumstances. He said it was no different than cases in which an official could search for a vehicle without an arrest warrant.

“These are officers who have a final reason to stop this vehicle,” said Sgt. D'Sposito.