LOS ANGELES : Police Panel OKs Changes in Policy on Car Chases
The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday approved modifications in the LAPD’s policy for initiating and ending car chases--changes that are intended to protect innocent bystanders from death or injury.
“We’re trying to balance the need to pursue with the safety of children who are out playing or of other people,” said Sgt. Jerry L. Powell of the department’s training division. “That’s the primary focus.”
Under the new policy, officers will be asked to take a number of things into consideration before giving chase--such the seriousness of the offense, traffic conditions and whether the suspect could be caught later if the pursuit is discontinued.
In addition, officers will be instructed to call off a chase if there appears to be an “unreasonable risk of injury to the public or to the pursuing officers.”
Although Police Commission President Enrique Hernandez Jr. expressed concern that some of the new procedures might encourage criminals to flee, police officials said they believe the new policy is flexible enough to allow officers to be able to give chase in serious cases.
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