Officer honored; slowed Dantzler SUV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - It has been seven months since a deadly shooting rampage and high-speed chase occurred in West Michigan.

A member of the Grand Rapids Police Department will be recognized Thursday for the role he played that day.

Stop Tech will honor Officer Michael Wordelman with the 2011 Hit of the Year award. Stop Tech manufactures Stop Sticks that police around the county use during pursuits. There were less than 800 successful Stop Stick deployments throughout the country in 2011; 50 of which in Michigan, according to Stop Tech.

The company will present Officer Wordelman, a 13-year veteran of GRPD, with his award at 6:30 p.m. at police headquarters.

Rodrick Dantzler killed seven people on July 7, 2011 and then led authorities on a high-speed chase through Grand Rapids and surrounding communities.

Officer Wordelman deployed Stop Sticks on the northeast side of Grand Rapids that deflated the front two tires of the SUV that Dantzler was driving. Dantzler's vehicle was slowed down significantly, and he drove off the road and ran from officers. A standoff ensued at a nearby home where Dantzler took his own life.