Army Changes Policies After Fatal Pursuit

The pursuit of a drug dealing suspect by Huntsville (Ala.) police led into the U.S. Army’s huge Redstone Arsenal, and eventually into a fatal collision with another vehicle. Now HPD and Army officials say they will adjust their procedures for handling pursuits to better inform the Arsenal’s 911 center so the facilities gates are better protected. Logging tapes show that HPD dispatchers didn’t notify Army dispatchers until just a second before the suspect’s vehicle blew through Gate #1 at the Arsenal. The two agencies say that the Arsenal dispatchers will now be notified of all pursuits within the city, and Army dispatchers will more closely monitor HPD’s radio channels. Agencies in the county have planned a new 800 MHz trunked radio system that would link all public safety. Read more about the aftermath of the incident here. In the radio transcript, note the very first response from the dispatcher when the police unit reports he is pursuing the suspect.