Penn.: 44% of the 2,215 police pursuits in 2005 ended with a crash
The Tribune Review
Individual police officers normally decide when it’s safe or unwise to chase drivers who refuse to stop, a sampling of area police reveals.
Officers must rapidly assess the seriousness of the alleged crime and the reason for the pursuit. They must weigh that against the risk to themselves, the fleeing motorist, other drivers and pedestrians.
As the chase continues, the officer has to continually assess whether to continue or end the pursuit.
On Tuesday, a Gilpin woman was seriously injured when her car was struck by a Jeep fleeing police through Gilpin and Leechburg after a traffic stop for alleged speeding.
The incident is being investigated by state police and Gilpin and Leechburg police departments.
Gilpin Chief Dan Clark declined to comment about the incident or the department’s pursuit policy because both are under review by state police. He said he could comment after the report is done.
Leechburg Chief Mike Diebold said borough police policy “weighs the crime versus the risk” and relies on the judgment of the officers.
Officers complete driving skills classes, and some upgrade that training periodically.
According to state police, about 44 percent of the 2,215 police pursuits in 2005 ended with a crash.
Thirteen people died. Ten were the people being chased; three were drivers who were not being chased.
The suspect eventually pulled over 26 percent of the time, roughly the same percentage in which police stopped the pursuit.
Nationally in 2005, the most recent year available, 357 people died in police pursuits, including five police officers, 234 in vehicles being chased, 102 in other vehicles, and 16 pedestrians, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Many other smaller area police departments only have one officer on duty at a time.
“It’s at the officer’s discretion,” said Saxonburg (Butler County) Officer in Charge Erik Bergstrom. “It also depends on the nature of the crime.”
Police might end a chase involving a minor traffic violation, but they would push a chase longer if the case involves murder or another serious crime.
“These things happen very fast,” said Fawn (Allegheny County) Chief Tim Mayberry. “We always call 911 and try to get officers ahead to use spike strips or otherwise end pursuits.”
Most of the officials surveyed refused to give details about which factors might end a police pursuit.
The reason, they said, is simple. Criminals would use that knowledge to their advantage.
“If they knew it were a certain speed or something else, they would push a little harder knowing the officer would break off pursuit,” said Harrison (Allegheny County) Police Chief Mike Klein.
From state police headquarters in Harrisburg, Cpl. Christopher Bendl said the motor vehicle code requires each police department to submit a report every two years outlining its pursuit policy, and that policy must adhere to state guidelines.
The content of those policies, along with the state police pursuit policy, is confidential, by state law.
The International Chiefs of Police Association released a sample pursuit policy in 1996.
It calls for an “acceptable balance … between the capture of fleeing suspects and the responsibility of law enforcement to protect the general public from unnecessary risks.”
Officers should consider a number of issues including:
• Road, weather and other conditions.
• Population density and vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
• Capabilities of the car chased and the police car chasing it.
• Presence of other people in the police car.
The sample policy recommends that warning lights and siren be used, that the 911 dispatch be notified and a clear channel set up, and that the pursing officer “shall not drive with reckless disregard.”
The pursuit would be slowed down if police involve a helicopter or plane.
Alternatives, including roadblocks and placing spike strips well in front of the fleeing vehicle to flatten its tires, should be used whenever possible.
As a possible deterrent, the association asked state lawmakers to stiffen penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude police.
Copyright 2006 Tribune Review Publishing Company