Associated Press
EPPING, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire police say they are evaluating the use of a mat with spikes on it to stop fleeing vehicles after three officers were killed using the device.
Police say the spike mat is thrown down in front of speeding cars to blow out their wheels.
But questions have arisen about the device after a New Hampshire man swerved to avoid a spike mat and killed a Vermont state trooper last month. Last week, two Tennessee officers were killed when a fleeing car struck them.
The crashes have police officers reevaluating whether guidelines for using spikes are adequate and training for police is sufficient.
Sgt. Chuck Winters said when a new policy is created officers will be notified when it’s safe to use the device.
“We’re going to teach the troopers to use whatever they can to protect themselves,” he said.