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Police Chases
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Hardly a day goes by when the TV news doesn’t report on a police car chase and often the chase results in an accident that injures or kills an innocent motorist or bystander. Most often the driver of the car being chased is not a major criminal and is usually a just minor offender. Is it worth getting someone killed to catch someone that will not stop because of drugs in the car or an outstanding warrant?
If the police are trying to catch a really dangerous criminal like a serial killer and they know for sure the criminal is in the car it may be worth a try. But even then a police chase should not be continued if it means going at a very high rate of speed, through a congested area, the wrong way on a one-way street, or anytime an accident is likely. Once the police have gotten a description of the fleeing vehicle and its license number a risky chase should be discontinued. The fleeing vehicle can be watched for by notifying other police officers to be on the lookout. With the license number known it would be much better to stakeout the owners resident and make an arrest at a later time. In some cases it might be advisable to release the information to the news media so the public can be on the lookout and provide the police with tips.
Some police departments have rules about not making dangerous chases but police officers often tend to get excited and continue a chase when their rules indicate otherwise. This would indicate that more training is required regarding police chases. Also, police officers that pursue a chase to a dangerous level should be disciplined just like they would be for violation of other rules.
Trying to catch a suspected lawbreaker should not involve the significant possibility of harming an innocent person and a police case is never justified if it results in the death of an innocent person!
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