We know police chases are controversial, with some people thinking they’re always reckless and unnecessary and other people thinking cops should be spraying bullets at fleeing suspects always. While we can see some merits at both of those extremes, we think a more even approach to police pursuits is wise. Then there’s this case out of Missouri which makes us wonder exactly what cops were thinking at the time.
Report exposes Milwaukee police pursuit policy deficiencies.
Over the first weekend in April at 3:13 in the morning, Clay County deputies saw a speeding Dodge Challenger with no functioning taillights. They gave chase, but when the fleeing driver lost control, deputies terminated the pursuit, reports KMBC.
A few minutes after that, the same Mopar flew past another patrol car which had pulled over a different driver. This time the suspect almost hit the cruiser. Yet despite posing a clear threat to anyone out on the roads at that time, deputies decided not to chase the suspect down.
We know many feel that chasing someone will cause them to drive more recklessly. But if your pursuit policies state that if a suspect drives recklessly you must terminate a chase, a law enforcement agency is in effect encouraging criminals to drive recklessly so they can get away.
Sure enough, about 15 minutes later this same reckless Challenger driver sped past deputies who were patrolling in another area, blowing through red lights, etc. How could that be if not pursuing a suspect would cause them to not drive like that?
It was at that point deputies finally realized the suspect constituted a danger to the public, not the first or second reckless driving encounters, and so they tried maneuvering to stop the Dodge. But the suspect was able to avoid the deputies until he crashed into a utility pole, knocking down live wires, and starting a fire.
The Mopar, like the little wrecking ball it is, kept going, hitting an empty car, gas line, mailbox, treehouse (don’t ask us how that’s possible), and finally a house.
We really wonder when someone is going to ask why Clay County Sheriff’s Office didn’t stop the reckless driver upon the first encounter.
Image via Clay County, Missouri Sheriff/Facebook
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