Family pushes for 'Pursuit Alert' system after deadly West Baton Rouge Parish police chase
Oct 15, 2024
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) -- The father of a Brusly High School cheerleader who died after being hit by officers during a police pursuit is hoping to put an end to deadly car chases.
Town Clerk Blaine Rabalais confirmed Tuesday that the council passed a measure and accepted a donation for an app that would alert people of an area high-speed chase on Monday, Oct. 14.
"I want it to go beyond Brusly. I want it to go beyond West Baton Rouge Parish. I want it to go beyond the state of Louisiana," said Jason Gill, who lost his daughter Caroline Gill during a deadly police pursuit in 2022. Caroline's friend Maggie Dunn was also killed in the crash.
Now he's working to prevent that same tragedy from happening. The Gill and Dunn family have been fighting to help reduce the fatalities involving police pursuits with the 'Pursuit Alert' system.
Related: Former Addis police officer turns himself in after guilty plea in deadly crash
"Seconds matter. You know, my particular case of my daughter would add a couple more seconds heads up I think it would have a different outcome than we are today," said Gill.
The system picks up sirens and lights and creates an automatic alert to residents who are near a potential high-speed pursuit. Giving you a 45-second heads up, similar to an Amber Alert.
"It's all audible. You don't have to pick your phone up alert. It'll tell you, hey, there's a high-speed pursuit in your area. Please use caution," said Gill.
He hopes the concept will be able to potentially help save a life.
Donations can be made to the Caroline Grace Gill Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission to assist, educate, train and support law enforcement.
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Family pushes for 'Pursuit Alert' system after deadly West Baton Rouge Parish police chase