By Pat Culverhouse
Santa came a few days early this year for Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker and Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver, and the jolly guy’s sleigh looked a lot like a Minden City Marshal’s patrol unit.
City of Minden, Ward 1 Marshal Dan Weaver was ordering a new set of spike strips, a device law enforcement officers sometimes use to help put an end to vehicle pursuits, for his newest patrol unit. While making the order, he remembered an incident where the device might have been helpful to other local agencies.
“There was a chase that began outside of town and came through the city. If everyone had these, we might have been able to end the chase here,” Weaver said. “We (Ward 1 Marshals) have one of these in all our units, and I thought it would be a huge safety benefit for the Sheriff and Chief and the public to get these.”
Weaver added an extra eight units to his order and Monday, made a gift of four each to Sheriff Parker and Chief McIver. The units reportedly cost more than $500 each.
Parker and McIver said strips will be given to commanders on each shift.
“These are another tool in our belt, and on behalf of all our people, I want to thank Marshal Weaver for doing this for us,” Parker said. “I’ve seen them in action and they are very effective.”
McIver has also been involved in vehicle pursuits and said the units have helped bring to a halt what might have become a dangerous, even deadly, situation.
“When used effectively, these spike strips can play a large role in the safety of our officers and our citizens,” the Chief said. “It can also protect the suspect and any other people in the vehicle. There’s always the chance we can stop the vehicle before something very bad happens.”
Spike strips are deployed ahead of vehicles that are being pursued by law enforcement, often at high speeds. Deploying the units requires skill, and MPD officers and sheriff’s deputies will begin training as soon as possible.
“There’s more to deploying these strips than just tossing them into the road in front of a suspect’s vehicle,” Weaver said. “An officer must judge when to deploy ahead of a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, and he must also determine when to retrieve the strip in order to avoid the police units that are usually close behind.”
Weaver said providing the spike strips to the Sheriff and Chief is another way of showing law enforcement is a team effort.
“We have a great working relationship with Chief McIver and Sheriff Parker,” he said. “We’ve been involved in several things with them, like that chase that came through here. We’re happy to do anything we can to help, and this is something that will benefit us all.”