City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  May 16, 2006

Item No.:        

INFORMATIONAL ONLY—Stop Tech Ltd. to present Officer Randy Knitter, Officer Steve Gallagher and Officer Derick Slamka with the “ National Hit of the Year “ award.

Background:  The Oak Creek Police Department purchases tire deflation devices (Stop Sticks) from Stop Tech Ltd. These devices are used to deflate the tires on a vehicle eluding police. Each month Stop Tech Ltd. recognizes officers for the successful use of their tire deflation devices. The “Top Hit” is selected from a number of submitted Pursuit Reporting Forms based on the most important criteria:

      1.   Safe and effective deployment;

      2.   Termination of a dangerous pursuit situation;

      3.   Officer displayed ultimate regard to the safety of themselves, fellow law enforcement and the public at large.

On June 12, 2005, Oak Creek officers were made aware of an Amber Alert out of Wheeling, Illinois, where a father had taken his 6-month old child from the mother and threatened to harm himself and the child. The vehicle involved in the Amber Alert was located in the City of Oak Creek, and a pursuit took place. Speeds of the pursuit were in excess of 90 mph. As the pursuit headed southbound on S. Chicago Rd., Officers Knitter, Gallagher and Slamka were able to successfully deploy Stop Sticks in the path of the vehicle, flattening its tires, and causing the suspect to stop fleeing. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Officers located the 6-month old child in the vehicle unharmed.

As a result of the above, the three officers were awarded the Stop Tech Ltd. “Hit of the Month” award which then made them eligible for consideration for the “National Hit of the Year” award. Stop Tech Ltd. has chosen the three Oak Creek officers to receive the “National Hit of the Year” award and would like to present the officers with the award before the Common Council.

Fiscal Impact:  N/A

                                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                                     Patrick DeGrave

                                                                     City Administrator

Prepared by:                                                Approved by:

Lt. Daniel Hermann                                      Thomas P. Bauer

                                                                     Chief of Police