Victory Motorcycle All

Victory Motorcycle All

Victory Motorcycle All
Where do you stand on highspeed police pursuits?

I was talking to a CHP freind this morning and this subject came up, a Highway patrolman was killed on his motorcycle while chasing someone who failed to pull over. Some say the cops should never chase people because of the danger to both the officer and the traveling public. I agree it is always dangerous, but if some people have thier way and chasing is outlawed it's just one more victory for the criminals. The thugs have had a big enough impact on society lets not give them free passes to do whatever they want and they will if they know when the red lights come on all they have to do is push on the accelerator. Officers need the respect they had when I was a little guy, when an officer said stop it pretty much meant stop and no one questioned that command. Perhaps rather than banning pursuits we should let the officers catch up with the thugs who want to run and toss a grenade in the window, and yes if the window is closed shoot it out first. I bet that would stop the running!

Unfortunately, this topic contains a double-edged sword. Yes, you are correct, those that break the law and then decide to flee, should not be allowed to get away and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, most police departments (mine included) are afraid of the civil liability that they might be held accountable for if a police officer chasing someone (essentially only for a traffic summons) gets involved in an accident. This is especially true if the accident involves injury and/or death.

My Police Department (NYPD) will usually not allow its Highway Patrol Officers to chase an individual if a) it's way to aggressive a speed (well over 100mph) or b) if the pursuit exits the highway and goes down to the street level (which is understandable), but they don't have in place a procedure in which to attempt to later apprehend this vehicle and it's driver. A Police Officer has to be creative in order to accomplish this mission.

I have even heard NYPD supervisors calling off "pursuits" when unmarked cars have called in a license plate check for a car that they are only following (no lights, no sirens) that turns out to be stolen.

Only recently, has the legislature even made it a crime to flee the police. Before it had to be worded under a generic title of "Obstruction of Governmental Administration" (a Class A misdemeanor which usually gets plead down), "Disorderly Conduct" (a violation - not even a crime), or worst of all "Fail to Comply With Lawful Order (a simple traffic infraction).