Kent Police Constables Use Bullard Thermal Imager
to Locate Dangerous Suspect

On a pitch black foggy night on August 24th, at 11:20 p.m., Kent Police Constables in Maidstone, Kent, located in the United Kingdom, received a report of a male who had a knife and what was believed to be a can of CS spray. The man had reportedly threatened youth in Tonbridge Park with weapons, attempting to rob them. Kent Police Constables, PC Richard Sadler, John Cowling, Steven Kirk, and Patrick Griffiths were immediately deployed to the park with a Bullard Thermal Imager.

Upon arrival, they began searching the park, using the thermal imager. A man, who was initially believed to be the suspect, was located and found in possession of a knife and drugs. However, after an involved party stated that the man found was not the suspect reported, the team immediately returned to the park to continue a thorough search in pairs. Shortly after, PC Cowling and PC Sadler spotted a man some distance away hiding in a wooded area near a river. The man looked out from behind undergrowth before disappearing out of sight again. PC Cowling and PC Sadler coordinated with PC Kirk and PC Griffiths to search both sides of the river for the suspect. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate the suspect. By this time the constables’ flashlights had stopped working due to the length of time that had passed, and time was continuing to tick away.

The next step was to narrow down the location where the male was likely to be and continue searching, for they believed the man was still in the immediate area. One hour and 30 minutes after the call, PC Cowling and PC Sadler spotted the man on the Bullard Thermal Imager. “Without the TI, it’s likely that the search for the suspect would have been prolonged,” said PC Sadler. The man was instantly sprayed by PAVA spray and taken down to the ground by the officers. Two other knives were found in the man’s pocket. The suspect was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon. The suspect admitted that he would have attacked anyone who came along.

The Kent Police were honored for their effective use of thermal imaging on November 1st. This is the Kent Police Department’s 2nd time being recognized through Bullard Save Or Apprehension Recognition (S.O.A.R.) program, which recognizes the effective use of thermal imaging technology by law enforcement officers who have used the Bullard TacSight to apprehend a felon or suspect, or to save the life of a civilian or fellow officer.

Lesson Learned: The value of the thermal imager in this search is apparent. Both subjects eventually arrested, were armed and threats to the population. By using the TI, not only were the suspects located sooner, they were located from a distance. Because the TI sends no light or identifying beam to indicate an area is being searched, the suspects did not actually know that they were being watched by police. This allowed the constables to plan the arrest without alerting the suspects. Since both men were armed, this allowed the constables to overcome the normal disadvantages presented in low-light situations.

If you would like to tell us about an incident in which a Bullard Thermal Imager has made a difference in your work, send an e-mail to ashley_smith@bullard.com or visit www.bullard.com/Tacsight/SOAR to submit your story online. Selected stories will be featured in an upcoming issue of Get The Picture Law Enforcement.