High-Speed Police Chases: Not Worth the Risk - and What Police Departments Can and Should Do | Streetsblog.net

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

In 2012, a police pursuit of a drug suspect ended up killing Stephanie Melson, a mother of three, after the suspect ran a stop sign. “Melson’s death was the catalyst for newly arrived Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad to overhaul the department’s pursuit policy,” Riley wrote, “to try and reduce the risk of collisions and fatalities from police chases.”

The policy, instituted in December 2012 and updated several times since then, states that LMPD officers can only pursue suspects involved with a violent felony, according to [local WDRB reporter Jason] Riley. Otherwise, the chase must be called off. “As of last year, they have to stop, turn around and drive the opposite direction to show the suspect they are not being followed,” Riley reported.

According to WDRB’s numbers, provided by LMPD, seven people were killed as a result of pursuits in the five years before the policy. Since 2013, there have been no deaths related to police chases. Total police chases have dropped by by over half since the change.

That’s a serious increase in street safety.

Link: 

High-Speed Police Chases: Not Worth the Risk - and What Police Departments Can and Should Do | Streetsblog.net

MoBikeFed comment: We have been advocating for no-pursuit policies for police departments since cyclist Toni Sena was killed by a motorist involved in a lengthy multi-jurisdiction police chase in 2003.

You can see many stories on this topic and an outline of why no-pursuit policies are better for police, criminals, and the general public here:

http://mobikefed.org/search/node/police%20pursuit

Because so many Missourians who walk and bicycle have been injured and killed as a results of police pursuits, we have also adopted a plank in our Legislative Platform calling for adoption of no-pursuit policies by police departments across Missouri.