Should police pursue in a high speed chase?
brianlux
Posts: 42,038
The day before yesterday while working at the book store on Main Street, I heard a small engine winding out loudly (which turned out to be a motorcycle) and looked out the front window to see the flash of a police car (might have been a CHP) fly by in a blur. As is usually the case in most small towns, our Main St. is relatively narrow and it's a fairly busy place with lots of people out walking. The whole scene felt very dangerous, especially because my wife had just left to walk down to check out out mid-week farmer's market (she was not harmed) which meant things were very busy downtown that day.
I briefly thought, "That idiot! I hope they catch him!" but then I thought, "Wait, who is wrong here? If the cop weren't pursuing so fast, no danger would have occurred in this situation."
Another person pointed out that many innocent people are killed as a result of high speed chases (below is the first article I came up with at random that talks about that).
Thoughts?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/30/police-pursuits-fatal-injuries/30187827/
I briefly thought, "That idiot! I hope they catch him!" but then I thought, "Wait, who is wrong here? If the cop weren't pursuing so fast, no danger would have occurred in this situation."
Another person pointed out that many innocent people are killed as a result of high speed chases (below is the first article I came up with at random that talks about that).
Thoughts?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/30/police-pursuits-fatal-injuries/30187827/
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
0
Comments
Guess I'm torn between them wanting to get some dangerous asshole off the road - sometimes they drive erratically even without the string of cars behind them - and concern for the innocents just living their lives.
At times yes.
Wouldn't want that serial killer to get away.
Other times no.
Either way whatever happens from a high speed chase would be criticized from the general 10c public.
So maybe the cops should do nothing instead.
That'll learn em.
The getaway can't be as simple as racing away from the cop's knowing they won't chase you.
Here are two views of Main St. , Placerville (the first one looking east, the second one looking west). A few years ago another high speed chase was clocked on this street at almost 100 MPH. The one I saw Wednesday was probably between 65 and 75 MPH. Does that kind of chase on this kind of street make sense?
But evading law enforcement where the officer stops pursuing because of speed concerns should carry HEAVY penalties.
I wonder how much of this kind of thing is an adrenaline fix for the pursuing cops. How often is it necessary and how often is it just a big thrill kind of thing. I really don't know.
Footchase vs footchase
car vs car
whatever medium the suspect choses the police should at least be given the right to match it
(and now I'm thinking of the George-on-scooter chase from Seinfeld)
Sorry, Brian. No more derailing on my part
The street this happened on is in a pretty densely populated section of town with a lot of side streets and alleys and is fairly narrow commpared to newer neighborhoods. kids on foot and bikes, moms and dads pushing strollers etc......
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/07/30/columbus-ohio-video-shows-franklin-co.-deputy-was-driving-over-100-mph-during-deadly-crash.html
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
F**king stupid people.
Number 1 stupid person: the idiot in the left lane that almost reluctantly pulls over to the right lane (let alone the curb as you are required to do).
Number 2 stupid person: the driver of the van. I say this reluctantly because I fear this is the victim. But... why are you pulling out trying to 'beat the police car in pursuit of something'?
Number 3 stupid person: the cop... 'if' the pursuit was something petty and not even remotely close to being necessary.
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/07/13/columbus-ohio-franklin-county-deputy-responding-to-pursuit-slams-into-van-killing-driver.html
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
The other drivers I referenced don't get a pass for ignoring basic and essential rules of the road: we know, through hindsight, that this high speed pursuit was unnecessary, but if it was a different scenario where lives were in danger... these drivers couldn't have discerned- they made themselves hazards for an emergency vehicle.
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Any number of legal and otherwise distractions behind the wheel gets in the way of full sight and sound attention not to mention human thought is probably the biggest.
NO reason for that rate of speed EVER in a 35 mph area.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
There is a need for speed at times. If an armed gunman is making his way through a public place shooting people, we expect law enforcement to get there as fast as possible- at least the people under fire and their families do. We don't want them peacefully meandering towards the crime scene- stopping at every light and respecting posted speed limits set for 'everyday' life. I could offer a 1000 other scenarios as well.
The video showed a road that was straight and wide- easy to see, easy to navigate at high speeds, and not at all like those two photos earlier in the thread which you made it sound like.
The responsibility is on the driver to be aware of emergency service vehicles when their lights and sirens are blaring and they are travelling at high speeds. Refusing to pull over until the last second or pulling out in front of them is shitty driving. Period. In my city... all cars on both sides of the street pull over to the curb and stop until the emergency vehicle is gone. Most times, the cars wait for a few seconds because there's usually another rushing vehicle or two as well. But... most of us play with half a brain at least. Maybe in Ohio this isn't the case? Maybe the idea of leaving the roadway to the emergency vehicles is a concept that is simply beyond your guys' capacity for thought?
In my earlier post, I classified the officer as 'stupid'. Before I officially slap that label on him... could you be so kind as to let me know exactly what the rush was? Who were they pursuing? What was the fleeing person on foot running from (what crime did they commit) if you don't mind me asking?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
This might be a scenario that requires excessive speed.
Did the dispatcher call for assistance... but temper it with a 'but just chill 'cause everything is cool'? Or was the call for help left to interpretation?
More examples of innocent people killed due to high speed chase:
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/07/31/arizona-police-chases-fatal-bystanders/30919875/
http://jobs.aol.com/videos/what-its-like/father-and-daughter-innocent-bystanders-killed-in-high-speed-case/518184872/
Just let some dangerous fucker pull that?
I don't know. Different circumstances and neighborhoods, different actions required.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Do you still feel that drivers are inherently prone to gross errors in judgement and therefore share little responsibility in these motor vehicle accidents where an emergency vehicle is involved? I ask because this was implicit in one of your previous posts.
From my perspective, the van should have been waiting at the intersection for the cop to pass- not scooting through to save six seconds of driving time.