Police pursuit policies questioned after death of Toni Sena

On July 10th, Toni Sena was run down and killed by a motorist involved in a high-speed chase with police from both Kansas and Missouri. Sena was riding on the weekly Brookside Ride at the time.

Laurie Chipman, leader of the Brookside Ride, and Larry Denny, Toni Sena's husband, have compiled some comments and questions about the situation and the pursuit policies of metro area police departments. An excerpt:

Since the death of Ms. Sena . . . I have become more concerned about risks to the public from these chases and the circumstances under which they happen. I don't know every detail of the situation, but I personally don't think this chase was necessary because they knew who the suspect was and where he lived and this was a population dense area of the city at a time when many people would be outside. I have not seen any evidence that the escaping driver was a threat to the general public until he was being chased. I believe the suspect was at fault but the police are also at fault for failing to use good judgement in conducting a high speed chase along heavily traveled Wornall and 75th Streets and then continuing to pursue the suspect at high speed on Wyoming Street.

• When do police decide to chase?
  
• When could it be necessary to chase (a kidnapping)?
  
• What are the rules regarding chases in KC area cities and counties?
  
• Are these chases necessary to catch a criminal and do they work better than other methods?
  
• Why would police chase a suspect whose identity is already known to them?
  
• Was there a helicopter pursuing the suspect, and if not, why not?
  
• How are helicopters used to catch criminals? Are they better at pursuing than cars?
  
• How many injuries, deaths or properties damage situations have happened locally and nationally because of police chases?
  
• What are the police chase policies in other cities and other cities of our size?
  
• Does police work attract a risk-taking personality who is looking for the opportunity to chase? How old are these police who chase?
  
• What are police taught in regards to chasing, how to do it, when to do it, how to make a judgement if or if not to do it?
  
• Is there a supervisor that monitors and coordinates a chase who is not caught up in the chase?

KCMO police department's chase policy (PDF) addresses department policy on some of these issues. A story and an editorial give any idea of how the pursuit issue is addressed in other areas of the country.