Texas County's Policies in Focus After Pursuits

Geoffrey Alpert, a University of South Carolina criminologist who studies police pursuits, said that's a prevalent myth among officers and that research has shown that offenders are no more likely to flee after a department places restrictions on vehicle pursuits.

What type of research? It is common sense. If I would be a criminal and I would know that if I run from police they will not pursue me? I will run every time. We do not need "research" to know that.

It's more complicated than that. It's about officer safety. In the last couple of years, we've lost several good officers that were either responding to a chase or actually in the chase. The officers lost control of the vehicles and either slammed into another vehicle or other objects. Is the enforcement of a misdemeanor worth your life? REALLY?

In one recent chase, DPD broadcast a chase, and 27 responding cars were involved, including several who drove across town to be involved, completely out of their patrol area. This got a lot of attention because it appeared to be officers just wanting to drive fast. Whether that was actually the case didn't matter to the public. Luckily, no one was hurt in that episode.

I've said it before: overaggressive policing is the fastest way to stunt your career.

I really hate to see anyone involved in a collision due to a fleeing criminal. But I hate to see politions impose limits when you can and cant chase. I think that it sends a very bad message, run if your a criminal and they wont chase you. This I think has always been extremely stupid. What needs to be in this country is stiffer penalties, if you kill someone you should be put down. Expedite the death penalty apeals process. Lets get rid of the scum.

It would seem that the justice systems could get their heads out of "somewhere" long enough to quit restraining officers and make the law so that if you flee from the law in a vehicle, the first chance the officer has to take your vehicle out, is can be done. Hopefully even the offender doesn't get hurt but if he/she does, then so be it. I do think it makes no sense to have a chase with numerous cars that last for an hour or more. To me, to continue a chase like that is putting the public at risk. A "known" hostage would require the options to be thought out a little more. I also feel that if you run from an officer on foot or in a vehicle, it should be a felony. The offender puts everyone at risk no matter how they flee. Then, to top it off, the punishment should be upheld and some automatic time served in jail for fleeing!

Well Said NC, apparently you're not "always wrong". I'm sick of seeing two hour chases on TV. If you are dumb enough to run from the law, then you should pay the consequences, i.e. Be taken out. I know that if my family were struck by a POS who had been "chased" for two hours, I'd be pissed that it wasn't ended sooner. I'm sick of these moron criminals viewed as "victims". Its B.S.

Here in Columbus, if we cant shoot it we dont chase it. Thats what the brass wants, thats what they get.

Here is a statement made by the wife of a suspect shot and killed after he brandished a firearm in a local liquor store. He was shot after a pursuit and while running into a park. I'd be curious to see Alpert's research that people run for stupid reasons, not because they know police can't chase. I've had suspects tell me I broke the law because I chased them when they fled...

Agent ***** said he then went to the green van to secure the female passenger. She had to crawl across to the driver������s side to exit. He said she asked if he was dead or dying and he replied that paramedics were on the way and everyone has medical training and would give him all the medical attention possible. She said the suspect was her husband. She then stated, ������Aren������t you supposed to stop chasing us if it is a danger to the public.������ She also asked, ������Why didn������t you shoot him in the legs.������

Either start blaming those responsible for creating these situations or just tell us to not pursue, period. Quit trying to have it both ways.

Here's on idea lets enforce the laws we have. Instead of giving E V E R Y S I N G L E pos that commits crimes probation and turns them loose to violate that probatioin numerous times and commit even more crimes.

Pursuits suck, every cop here worth his salt knows that. They are dangerous, to us, to the public and yes to the violator, remember even though we don't necessarily shed a tear at some POS buying the farm and being removed from the gene pool we still protect them from themselves and each other.

Pursuits are a slippery slop lets not go down it and make it worse for ourselves.

First off, there is no reason for a 2 hour car chase. There are tools at our disposal to prevent things like this, spike, PIT. Letting the chase to continue only increases the violators urge to escape at all costs. End it early, throw them in jail for running, take their license PRIVELAGE away for indefinte and then lets see what happens from there. Officers need to also decide whether or not its worth the risk of putting civilians at risk just for a speeding violation, registration, inspection or something minor.