Police & High Speed Pursuits.

You can't outrun a Motorola!

There is no 'One-size-fits-all, best' solution.

The smartest thing to do is follow long enough to get a good description of the car, plate, and occupants, then call ahead for an intercept with spikes. Then again, how often do other LEOs happen to be close enough to the pursuit to make the intercept?

Confession time:

Back in my wild youth, some 20-odd years ago, I had a souped up Camaro. While I never tried to run from the cops, once I went so fast past a hidden radar car that all he could do was turn on his overheads and turn them right back off again. It was dark, I was moving somewhere well into triple figures, and I don't think he got a good description of the car and I wasn't about to wait around to find out. I knew I could outrun just about anything on the road (my car had a top end of 145mph) except a radio! I got off the freeway at the next exit and drove scared, but sanely, the rest of that night! I never got a knock on my door, but let's just say 'Lesson learned!'
 
Ok

Time to get in on the subject. My dept has a three car policy. Two chase cars and a supervisor. No other cars involved in the chase. If the helo is up we back off and cooridnate with it.

As a matter of fact some cops do live for a chase just as some live to get into fights or flash their badges. I'd have to say that the first thing to remember is that these folks are for the most part as scared or more so than whomever they are chasing. They have to live with themselves,justify their actions with the boss,ada,and i.a. as well as the public and in the mean time get the B.G.

Furthermore lets face it, cops are'nt a breed that takes loosing lightly. One of the qualities that most depts look at is if the cop has the we can quit when I win attitude or a oh well that wasn't fun guess I'll just wait out here for a while.

As far as a chase or no chase policy well I say chase,for pretty much all the reasons stated above. However there are times that you have to back off no matter what the charges thats where veteran cops come into play. That could be why you see cops making the mistakes that they are,no vets to guide the rooks.

When you hire c or d quality people you get c or d quality work and decisions. The a and b people are working somewhere they make decent money. Case in point one major city near me has such a high cost of living that full time patrol officers qualifiy for state assistance.(food stamps) Of course the alternitive is to live in or near the area they patrol and deal with that can o worms.

Sorry got on the soap box. Summary: Let the police chase suspects but get them the very best equipment to help them do their jobs right. apologize for the digress.

Best wishes Best luck Poacher.
 
Never saw a high speed chase on a military installation - the MPs would drive sedately along at 35 mph... And radio ahead for a roadblock... An ARMED roadblock.
 
First off I pray for all of you. My cousin is an officer and a friend of mine's, wife and three month old baby where killed when a person evading the police tried to avoid a stop stick lost control and struck there vehicle. :(

The high speed pursuit situation in this country is approaching critial levels in certain areas. There are many very good point posted. And many good views, a lot of them are better than mine. And may be good alternative, but until I can see something work better this is my view.

Now to answer your questions. On the type of police action? It is nessesary and until a better form or conclusion to the chase is found the chase is needed.

Next what needs to be applied to have a chase traffic violation or felony? You will find I am very black and white in many situations. Once the law is broken it is broken. That person needs to be... has to be apprehended now and punishment applied. If they are caught once and applied correct punishment it may prevent future problems.

Training? First you can never have enough training. Secondly in a situation that is by definition out of control training is never enough. All that can be expected is the officers best.

Lastly what type of penalties? LOTS like at least one for every person they pass during the chase and at least one for every officer in the chase. If it puts them away for a thousand year I will hate to pay for it but it will be better than what is going on now. These situation where crated by the offender running from the police they should be held responsible fully and completely. Attempted murder or manslaughter charges on everyone that was passed during the case would be a good start. Because there where all potiential victims.

Officers I think have the one of the hardest jobs in the world and disrespect in the form of evasion should not be tolerated.

Side note: 80% of the crime in this country is commited by repeat offenders. I have a law or punishment that would cut the crime rate by 80%. :) Thanks BK
 
I`ve been following this thread with some interest but wanted to wait to comment. I was a driving instructor for 3 1/2 years as well as a F.I for the dep`t. When I did it you had to be qualified for both. I also was qualified on the high speed course and motorcycles. When I went back on the street I usually drove the patrol sgt., the platoon commander or the duty captain. Now that I`m retired a own a car capable of doing 170 mph. Do I think I`m qualified to do that speed? Not bloody likely! :)
The larger P.D.s usually have a pursuit policy that`s generally ignored when the adrenaline starts pumping. At one time we were wrecking one car a day. These were serious accidents and sometimes resulted in death or serious injury to both the officers involved and the public.
It was the street supervisors responsibility to determine if the pursuit should be terminated. Usually his broadcast would be keyed over by the pursuing units so they could say they didn`t hear it.
One time in the precinct I worked a pursuit started and wound up going over the 59 St. bridge into Manhattan. This was around 3 a.m. so the speed was considerable. Since radio frequencies are different for different boroughs, Manhattan patrol units had no idea what was going on. The chase was terminated by a garbage truck that broadsided the lead unit. Serious injuries to both cops. :( As I recall, there were 117 complaints given for this incident. Just about anyone who was on the frequency got one including the dispatchers. The reason for this particular chase was the perps were wanted for multiple burglaries. They were known to be armed and fire an occasional shot at the police so everyone wanted a piece of them. I myself tried to ram them another time with a brand new radio car causing the Lieutenant I was driving to use words I`d never heard before! Ramming is one way to find yourself in the trial room. It would have been worth it. I was retiring in a few months anyway. :D I had 19 years in so it`s not just the rookies that get caught up in the moment.
Sometimes pursuits are necessary. Traffic violations by themselves are usually not a reason for a prolonged chase. The bosses in the Puzzle Palace are not interested in "what if" situations.
As far as I know, no police officer has ever been charged with reckless endangerment because of a chase that went bad but given the climate we live in, I think it`s inevitable.
 
Longpath said "When "crotch-rocket" race-bikes come flying by at 120 in the opposite direction, we generally wave and keep on going if they don't stop to our overhead lights".

This reminded me of my cousin who is LEO in So Cal [where the best chases are} he loves high speed chases especially right after going on with full tank. Told me once how he was chasing crotch rocket but bike went too fast and got far ahead so he used air support for position, going with all lights off at 130mph through red lights with the chopper telling him if it was clear. He eventually caught up with the bike and boy was the cyclist surprised.He gave up.
I know this is the exception to most leo's this guy is very hard core, really likes felony stops and dangerous people, doesn't mess with minor stops at all. Had one shoot out with second and soon to be thrird striker, guy never made it, six holes from sig p 220. BTW he said the jump through intersecitons at 130 was very scary, he aint completely crazy.But more crazy than me.
 
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