Broome County Sheriff’s Road Patrol deputies now have a new tool to help minimize risk during vehicle pursuits and aid in the apprehension of fleeing suspects in the community.
Sheriff Akshar and members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol highlighted the new StarChase GPS tool, which deploys an adhesive GPS tag onto the vehicle of a fleeing suspect. Once attached to the suspect’s vehicle, deputies can utilize the technology to track the vehicle in a tactical and safe manner as they coordinate apprehension, all while reducing the risks associated with high-speed vehicle pursuits.
“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,” said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar. “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.”
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
The tracking technology employs a low-velocity projectile containing a GPS tag. The GPS tag can be launched mid-pursuit by law enforcement and attaches to the fleeing vehicle. The GPS tag then provides patrols with live data on the location, speed and direction of the suspect’s vehicle.
“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,” said Broome County Sheriff’s Office Captain Ben Harting.
The data is also available to emergency dispatchers and can be shared with assisting agencies and other first responders.
StarChase GPS tracking is only utilized in pursuits that commence when the pursuing deputy has the equivalent of probable cause of wrongdoing (for example, fleeing a traffic stop). The device is removed and the location tracking ends when deputies apprehend suspect. Any other uses of GPS tracking technology outside the heat of a pursuit would require a warrant.
𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗖𝗦𝗢 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹
StarChase was most recently deployed during a vehicle pursuit on Thursday, January 29, 2026 on I-81 southbound in the Town of Dickinson. That day, the BCSO’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) received information from the Onondaga County Probation and the Syracuse Police Department regarding a stolen vehicle pursuit.
The suspect, Gabron Polk, age 19, had allegedly stolen a vehicle in Syracuse before getting into an accident with three other motor vehicles. Following the accident, the suspect 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 deploy 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.
Polk was charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony and Unlawful Fleeing, a Class A Misdemeanor, before being turned over to Syracuse Police to face charges on the earlier offenses.
“We continue to see unprecedented teamwork, coordination and expertise by our Strategic Response Group and our BCSO Road Patrol Deputies to get dangerous individuals off the road and bring them to justice,” said Sheriff Fred Akshar. “We will utilize every tool available, from the latest technology to old-fashioned police work to help build a stronger, safer Broome County for everyone.”
