Wednesday, August 7, 2002

I used to live in Peachtree City years ago, and couldn't resist the urge to comment on the suggestion of Chief Murray of the PTC Police Department to restrict high-speed chases because of the possibility of injuries to both innocent bystanders and police officers.

I think that this is a good idea for PTC, and could be expanded to include all the law officers in Fayette County. As a further enhancement to protect both citizens and police, all police cruisers would be prohibited from patrolling neighborhoods and highways. Who knows, they might interrupt a crime in progress and a high-speed chase might result.

Think of all the tax savings possible. You could just do away with the police department, and there would be a zero risk factor regarding high-speed chases. Just let the criminals run roughshod over the citizens!

An alternate suggestion is to maintain a few specially trained police officers with special patrol cars fitted with short range missiles, and they could shoot down the fleeing criminal. That's what the FAA proposes if there are any hijacked airplanes, so why not? There would, however, be the possibility of "collateral damage" if the missile missed, so I guess that eliminates that idea.

Seriously, one way of eliminating the problem of fleeing the police would be to make it a serious offense, a felony, to evade the police. I believe that it is now a misdemeanor.

And guess what the penalty is for most people who flee the police: probation and a fine. This does not deter someone who is a criminal.

Chief Murray has a point; something must be done to prevent the high-speed chase, but having seen some crazy escapades on TV, having radios, etc., won't stop the drug-crazed or alcohol-influenced evaders.

Jack Hollister

Eatonton, Ga

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