An officer equipped with spikes, has a pro-active way to keep out of the pursuit and is positioned to bring the vehicle to a stop. Deploying a spike device should be the safest task for any officer involved in the pursuit. Positioning yourself behind cover provides protection, not afforded to officers in the pursuit.

Before 1993 procedures and specifications were in place which helped insure officer safety. These specifications were never developed into standards. Spike systems were wider, heavier, but the “old school product and Tactics” produced a perfect safety record, a record superior than that of today. Stinger spike Systems announced over 15K uses of the product and a PERFECT SAFETY RECORD! The Stinger was developed by Utah State Trooper Don Kilgrow. Another poplular system was the Hovey Spike Belt developed by Constable Hovey of the R.C.M.P..

In 1993, tire deflation devices were becoming very popular and several new products with different strategies, were introduced. A few years later (1996) serious incidents began to happen, a change where Officers lost their lives. Changes were mandated, however despite product improvements, the incidents still continue to this day. Some agancies have stopped the use of Spikes, due to the “risk to officers”.

Our goal is to define the risks and assist you in develop a spike program and an effective training program for your department. Regardless if you select an accordion type deflator or a multisided system like our Spike-Belt we will provide information to help you better select a product and use it safe. On this web page, in the tabs labeled, Research and planning, we compare product features between the Accordion and multi side designs. On our training sites www.spikebelt.net we explain the difference between our Spike Belt and other multi-sideded brand deflators. On our training site www.autospike.net we explain the differances between other accordion brands. We want you to be able to explain the incidents with Spikes and why they are still a good option to stop pursuits.

Regardless if you are self training, or have been tasked to train your department, the Tabs “Training” will provide you extra material to give you a bigger picture of the use of Tire deflation devices and a skill level expected of an Instructor.

Spike-Devil is the first company to define the risks, based on research of the serious incidents and the “old School” procedures we present as our recommended method for deployment of Tire deflaters.