Singular Deployment
Deployment of Accordion Spikes can really up your safety and performance compared to Multi-Sided systems. The accordion frame expands and collapses in a manner to assist in your deployment and retrival. In the early years of Spikes rising popularity the multi-sided systems were introduced with a minimal design which was easy to deploy and also very affordable.
Singular deployment was a new deployment style where multiple spikes (STIXS) were deployed without a cord attached. Officers would deploy the spikes into the path of the target. The pursuit Officers would then drive around the spikes. The deployment officer(s) would then re-enter the roadway to clear the spikes off the road.
Since the officer could not predict in which lane to deploy, he was more effective to wait and target the car at close range. These STIXS were deployed without the use of protective cover. This started a new trend of deployng spikes whenever and wherever, and the begining of serious incidents with Spikes.
Another tactic was to use a patrol car as a road block and deploy into the adjacent lane to funnel the target vehicle over the spikes. These new tactic mis-re-defined what cover was.
Singular Deployment was quicker, but the lack of safety, soon became apperant, and brought up many concerns. For this reason a new sleeve was introduced, designed to hold the Spikes an with a cordreel a way of deployment and recovery. While a needed upgrade it still did not provide a solution for safety becasue many incidents were still claiming the lives of deployment officers and also the public.
The Deployment problems descibed.
The sad news is that most agencies had not identified the exact problems and we continue to see officers risk themselves in deployments.
1) Officers still deploy without protective cover and sometimes use thier patrol car to block lanes.
2) Officers do a last second and high visibility deployment that provokes a reaction from the target vehicle driver.
3) Officers Still have problems with spike deployment and placing the spikes, prolonging the time in traffic and exposure.
4) Departments have not placed strict controls on product use.
All the above are training issues that can be trained around, Accordion systems have benefits that make them safer in deployment.
- First the frame deploys into traffic in a covert fashion, when used behind cover its creates an element of surprise.
- The frame deploys into traffic and opens up smoothly and reduces the need for adjustments, meaning the officer can focus on his safety.
In this section were going to show the benefits’ of the Spike Devil over other accordion system. Spike devil uses a frame that sets low on the ground and the systems have contrasting colors to break up the profile of a Spike Strip on the roadway. The Spike Devil was designed 20 years later, than other designs, and incorporates features to make it more effective and safer.
While the deployment problems create a lot of issues they are not the biggest risk for deployment officers, the fact is recovery is the biggest safety issue.