Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (12/13/2019) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: TIRE DEFLATION DEVICE S
Index as: Deployment, STOP STICK® STOP STICK®
Post Tire Deflation Device Deployment Terminator Tire Deflation Device
Reasonable Suspicion Tire Deflation Device
Stationary Placement Tire Deflation Device Reporting Form
Accreditation Standards: 41.2.2 , 41.2.3
Cross Reference: G.O. II -42, Use of Force
G.O. II I-12, Police Vehicle Operation
G.O. III -17, Pursuit of a Vehicle or Boat
§316.072, §316.126, §776.08, §843.18 and §901.25 , F.S.S.
Replaces : G.O. III -38, Stop Stick Tire Deflation Device ( August 28, 2017 )
This Order provides members with policy on the Tire Deflation Device s. It consists of the following:
I. Policy
II. Definitions
III. Training , Storage , and Inspection of the Tire Deflation Devices
IV. Use of the STOP STICK® Tire Deflation Device
V. Deploying the STOP STICK® Tire Deflation Device
VI. Use of the TERMINATOR Tire Deflation Device
VII. Deploying the TERMINATOR Tire Deflation Device
VIII. Post Tire Deflation Device D eployment
I. POLICY
A. It is the policy of this Department to attempt to safely and efficiently stop vehicles involved in pursuits, felony
offenses, and those in which there is reasonable suspicion to believe contain wanted felony suspects.
B. The use of a Tire D eflation D evice may be used as a means to safely immobilize a vehicle when an Officer has
established reasonable suspicion that a felony offense has been committed or is being committed , and the operator of the
suspect vehicle indicates by their actions the intent to elude or evade apprehension. The u se of a Tire Deflation Device is
not considered deadly force .
C. The Officer deploying the Tire Deflation Device shall complete a report detailing the reason for and the specifics of
the deployment.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Supervisor – A Sergeant or Lieutenant as used throughout this O rder.
B. Officer – A Police Officer employed by the St. Petersburg Police Department who has successfully completed the
Field Training Program. DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
April 2016 Immediately III-38
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -38
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (12/13/2019) C. Reasonable Suspicion – Suspicion that is more than a mere hunch but is based on a set of articulable facts and
circumstances that would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an infraction of the law has been committed,
is about to be committed, or is in the process of being committed by th e person or persons under suspicion. This can be
based on the observations of a P olice Officer combined with the Officer ’s training and experience and/or reliable information
received from credible outside sources.
D. Stationary Placement – A positioning of the TIRE DEFLATION DEVICE ahead if the front tire, behind the rear tire,
or between the front and rear tires o f the stationary target vehicle .
E. STOP STICK® Tire Deflation Device – Equipment designed to puncture vehicle tires through the use of sleeved
spikes, causing a controlled but rapid deflation of the tire(s) .
F. TERMINATOR Tire Deflation Device – Equipment e ngineered to deflate tires without blowout; hollow, Teflon® -
coated quills act as valves, releasing air at a safe, controlled ra te.
G. Vehicle Stop – The actions taken by an Officer , while operating an emergency vehicle, to stop a vehicle suspected
of a traffic violation or offense or for any other lawful purpose.
H. Wanted Felon – A subject in which an Officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe has committed
a felony offense as defined by Florida State Statu tes.
III. TRAINING , STORAGE , AND INSPECTION OF T HE TIRE DEFLATION DEVICES
A. When not in use, the Tire Deflation Devices will be stored in the supplied nylon sleeve and secured in the carrying
tray mounted t o the underside of the police cruiser’s trunk lid. The Tire Deflation Device is also designed to be transported
within unmarke d vehicles, Patrol SUVs , and other special vehicles , but not mounted to the underside of the trunk l id. In such
vehicles, they will be safely stored in the supplied deployment bag.
1. Officers are required to perform periodic inspections of the Tire Deflation Devices to ensure they are
undamaged and ready for deployment.
2. Supervisors will inspect the Tire Deflation Devices as a part of their required monthly inspections.
B. Sworn personnel who have receiv ed properly documented training are authorized to deploy the Tire Deflation
Devices. All procedures used to deploy the Tire Deflation Devices will comply with the approved training provided by the
Training Division.
IV. USE OF THE STOP STICK TIRE® DEFLATION DEVICE
A. The use of the STOP STICK® Tire D eflation Device is encouraged as a means to safely immobilize a vehicle:
1. When an Officer attempts to perform a vehicle stop and the operator of the suspect vehicle indicates by their
actions intent to elude or evade