Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Chase cops equally guilty

Allowing any police to race through the streets, no matter how highly trained they are, is dangerous due to their lack of control over the other traffic. In addition, the suspects that are being chased have been forced by guilt to drive so recklessly as to cause extreme damage to the community. The suspects may be murderers, or thieves, or on drugs and not willing to exercise caution for others, but they will eventually need to stop for gas or try to hide.

Police have radios that transmit at the speed of light, and can coordinate efforts with other police departments to set up road blocks or just continue to monitor the progress of the vehicle (helicopters come to mind) until it is truly reasonable and safe to stop them.

Police chases look cool on the TV and movie screens, but are totally outdated and unacceptable with the traffic on the roads today. Stop these chases immediately, and institute other procedures to follow and stop fleeing suspects.

And if a suspect escapes every now and then, so be it. You'll catch them another day and the community will not have to bury another innocent family member.

As far as I'm concerned, a police officer who intentionally pursues someone in a high-speed chase where someone is killed is just as guilty of felony murder as is the fleeing suspect. Any government that allows such chases should also liable.

Rick Williams

Fayette

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