Informed Opinions on Today’s Topics : Putting the Brakes on Hot Pursuit

As exciting as police pursuits may seem on television, they are dangerous, which is why more than 100 such pursuits in Los Angeles--out of about 800--were called off last year.

Still, three teen-aged boys were killed in a collision with a fleeing burglary suspect last month in Van Nuys after traffic caused pursuing police to give up.

Last year, according to the California Highway Patrol, of 8,079 pursuits statewide--which resulted in 5,257 arrests--132 officers were injured, 27 suspects were killed and 765 other suspects were injured. Also, 421 motorists and pedestrians were caught in the path of police pursuits; 12 died.

How can police pursuits be made safer?

Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Tim McBride:

“It used to be the officer made the sole decision to go on pursuit and that is it. Now, supervisors call pursuits off regularly. We have opportunities where officers will give it over to the air unit. Unfortunately, we don’t always have an air unit on the pursuit. . . . Certainly, the public out there may want to consider that when people run from police for really silly reasons--having no driver’s license, drunk driving--now you’re getting into a life-threatening situation. Is that really worth the price?”

LAPD Sgt. Dennis Zine, a director with the Police Protective League:

“I think there has to be some restrictions on the [broadcast] media. . . . The live broadcasts seem to send the wrong message that will then plant the seed in an individual who is missing a lot of common sense and [might] want to do it themselves.”

Hugh Manes, civil rights attorney and a board member of Police Watch, a lawyer referral service for police complaints:

“My only problem with [police pursuit policies] is they are so vague and ambiguous. They have no restraint of pursuing police officers who when embroiled in a pursuit are motivated by the chase rather than the conditions which should moderate their actions. As a result, there are a lot of injuries and deaths caused not only in Los Angeles but throughout California. I would insist any deterrence would be an extreme form of legislation that would require an officer involved in a pursuit that results in injury, regardless of outcome, be suspended and penalized.”

Maury Hannigan, commissioner of the California Highway Patrol:

“One of the biggest arguments coming forward is ‘You should only chase violent criminals.’ But if you take that view, in my estimation you are throwing in the towel. If someone knows they will get away by simply putting their foot to the gas, then the only people who we will catch are those willing to submit to the law. . . . There were 12 innocent victims of pursuits last year, but that would pale in light of the number of people who would be killed if drunk drivers knew they could run.”