NCJ Number
134915
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 59 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1992) Pages: 46,48-49
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Research conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has found that although all police pursuits are potentially dangerous and pose a risk to citizen bystanders, the suspect, and the police officer, only a small number have ended in injuries, death, or property damage.
Abstract
CHP's statistics show that more than 70 percent of those involved in CHP pursuits were wanted for felony or serious misdemeanor offenses. Each year CHP officers arrest numerous drug traffickers after observing them commit minor traffic violations. Based on this experience and that of other law enforcement agencies, well-regulated police pursuits are necessary. Otherwise, if a policy banning pursuits were adopted, more criminals would have an incentive to flee. Pursuits conducted by CHP are regulated by an enforced written pursuit policy that is reviewed every 3 months by all officers and supervisors. Officers acting outside the policy guidelines are held accountable and provided remedial training or subjected to disciplinary action. The policy and procedures aim to ensure the swift, efficient apprehension of offenders without compromising the public safety. Table