Oct 17, 2008 7:12 pm US/Eastern
Police Pursuits: When, Where, Why & How
CBS 2 HD Speaks To Local Cops For Guidance On Proper Procedure When Confronted With High-Speed Chase
RYE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Police pursuits remain one of the most controversial topics in law enforcement. Virtually every police department in the tri-state has a policy governing when -- and why -- a cop can engage in a car chase.
In a suburban parking lot cops from various Westchester County police departments practice police pursuits -- behind the wheel of real cars and in simulators, where officers can safely make mistakes and learn from them.
"We want the person to operate the vehicle in emergency mode," Westchester County Police Sgt. Mike Hagan said. "And at the end of the day have everybody be safe."
Hagan said departments take this driving training seriously because pursuits can so easily turn dangerous.
Rye Police Commissioner William Connors says a decision to pursue a vehicle is one of the most critical a cop can make.
"Long-lasting implications can come from decisions that have to be made in a split second," Rye Police Commissioner William Connors said.
Both New Jersey and Connecticut have statewide policies governing when cops can initiate pursuit. Officers must evaluate the seriousness of the offense, the likelihood of apprehension, the weather and road conditions, population density and pedestrian traffic.
New York does not have a statewide policy. Departments develop their own.
Rye officers must constantly re-evaluate as a pursuit unfolds.
"The officer is not bound to pursue, and should continually during the course of a pursuit question his judgment to make sure he's engaged in the pursuit for the right reasons and is still operating safely," Commissioner Connors said.
The tragedy in New Milford is one more reminder -- a decision to pursue can have unintended consequences.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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