Should police be allowed to commence high-speed chases

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   RealityTalkposted 11 years ago

   Should police be allowed to commence high-speed chases
   
   I was watching HLN today & they brought up a chase in Florida where a driver suspected of DWI was chased by police at high speeds through the streets.  A former police officer/commentator for HLN commented "there is always some knucklehead" referring to the suspected DWI driver.  And yet, who were the knuckleheads?  The suspect sped off being chased and slammed into other cars injuring people.  Now that never would have happened but for the police pursuing the suspect at high speeds. The chase is presumed to stop & save lives, but more often it kills innocents. What do you think?
   
   

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   Rayne123posted 11 years ago

   No they should not, innocent people are killed but lately we have been seeing police officers misusing their authority. The public is starting to speak out.
   
   I thought they had this black spike wire that was laid  across the road to stop them,but then again that may kill an innocent again.
   
   I think if they can clear the highway and they have no choice in the matter, like a murder or child molester, something that needs to be out of the way of the innocent people then yes,they have no choice. Sometimes its a matter of life and death.
   
   So its hard to say but for DUI nope not at all, unless again they are driving drunk at the time and all over the road and they need to be stopped.
   
   So it totally depends on the situation. However they do need another solution

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   High-speed driving and pursuits are dangerous, risky parts of police work. Emergency vehicle operation creates potential risks for vehicle and property damage as well as personal injury or death of officers, suspects, and civilians. These risks, and the accompanying risk of litigation, have caused many agencies to reconsider the value of high -speed driving and police pursuits.
   
   The key components of police pursuit lawsuits are as follows:
   
   How to address the legal theories of liability an agency will face in any particular jurisdiction
   
   How to address the challenges created by a jury's hindsight biases
   
   How to manage risk before and after a lawsuit is filed
   
   How to use the four -step process to increase trial success Preparing for the special challenges these lawsuits present can allow the department to avoid liability and protect individual officers.

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4. 60

   Angela Kaneposted 11 years ago

   No they should not. Most of these police officers think they are in a movie. Let the helicopters or some other tracking source catch them. This will risk very few lives and still get their man.

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   loveofnightposted 11 years ago

   While watching TV I saw a family who lost their mother because of a high speed chase. In addition the people in the other car all died. There was a total of 4 deaths including one of the police officers. The reason for the pursuit was based on the driver in the car being chased looked suspicious. There were 4 innocent people who died because of a bad decision. The madness needs to stop.

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6. 39

   Borsiaposted 11 years ago

   Simple answer; shoot the car or shoot the driver which ever is most expedient.
   Most cars today could be easily taken out by simply shooting the engine with a high power rifle and a soft bullet that wouldn't be apt to ricochet, shooting the radiator with most any gun though a shotgun might be most effective.
   That failing shooting the driver would bring an end to the chase before any innocent motorists are involved in a collision. Especially true where the suspect is stopped and take off again.
   If this was standard policy there would be very few runners.

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   1. 60

      RealityTalkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      For speeding? No seat belt? Suspected DWI? Running a stop sign? Seems a little much. Plus it is making police judge & jury. Plus it is dangerous to bystanders. Plus it is illegal & reckless action.

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   2. 39

      Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Can be done safely so long as the right time is picked.
      Better to take out the runner before they kill or maim an innocent.
      It doesn't matter why they are running if they kill you or someone's child.
      As I said make it policy and they won't run.

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   3. 73

      CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have to admit Borsia, your answer got my attention!  LOL  I don't think I'd run from someone with a high powered rifle pointed in my direction.

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   4. 39

      Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Keep in mind that 9 times out of 10 you only need to shoot the car. Chances are that you are going to hit some critical engine / electrical component or break the engine block itself. Taking out the radiator will kill most cars in 15 minutes or less.

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7. 73

   CraftytotheCoreposted 11 years ago

   I've thought of this often and I have yet to come up with an answer.
   
   In some instances, I think it may be warranted to save further people from being victimized by a criminal such as in the case of an outlaw who was caught in an attempted murder.
   
   But then again, yesterday school was getting out.  Children were crossing the street with the crossing guard and I heard sirens.  I barely had enough time to turn my head and several police cars whizzed by at the speed of light down a tiny main strip of road right through the intersection.  It was scary.
   
   I think it's ridiculous to chase someone down for a seat belt violation or broken tail light.  Sometimes, police use their power in inappropriate ways.  There is a lot of corruption.  I remember a high speed chase in RI that was unwarranted.  It became the case study of a famed police investigation after they hunted down an unarmed man because he mouthed off.  They shot him multiple times upon capturing him, almost until he was dead, without regard to the bystanders who were watching.
   
   But other times, I agree that police officers have a job to do and it needs to be done for the safety of greater good.  So, I'm still torn.  It's not quite a cut and dry answer to me.

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