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NASCAR-like chase was dangerous
Published Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Common sense gets a little blurry as the darkened road passes at NASCAR speeds and adrenaline rages.
Last week, logic was left in the dust as blue lights flashed, tires screeched and emotions tore through the night at 120 mph.
On Thursday night, at approximately 10:30 p.m. a Sicily Island, La., police officer attempted to pull over a car speeding through town.
The driver refused to stop.
Some 30 to 40 minutes later that driver had led more than a dozen officers from eight local law enforcement agencies on a more than 60-mile, high-speed chase that screamed through two parishes and three towns in Louisiana and two counties and the City of Natchez in Mississippi.
Mere speeding charges cannot justify such an incredible show of bad judgment.
Each agency involved should have standards in place to determine if and when a high-speed chase is warranted.
The evidence we’ve seen, heard and witnessed would indicate that even under the most liberal of chase policies a chase should not have been justified.
We’re thankful no one was hurt in the chase; it’s a miracle given the distance, speed and traffic involved.
Each local law enforcement agency leader needs to carefully review their chase policies and discipline the officers who went beyond both common sense and their own departmental rules.
It’s easy to say, “We don’t know what the driver may have had in that car. There may have been a body in the trunk.”
Perhaps, but is that justification for risking a trail of innocent bodies across 60 miles?
Certainly not.
Comments
Posted by xfloodman (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever happened to "spike strips"?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the Natchez Democrat, the Sicily Island unit got the license I. D. Thus you have the owner if the plate was correct with the car! THE SIPD and the Catahoula DA's Office could just pursue the matter with charges and just get the West Feciliana Parish SO to pick the subject up! Simple matter! But you know it still seems strange that with that many units in pursuit, that the subject's car could not have been stopped?
Posted by StuWhoMoved (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you ban pursuits then all the criminals will just keep driving because they know they cant be pursued and then nothing ever gets solved. Had the traffic been heavy then i am sure the Supv. sould have called the chase off. And as far as just getting the license plate that doesnt do any good. You have to ID the driver. The car may have been stolen. Spike strips is definately an option and should/could have been used. Chases are inherently dangerous and and people do get hurt but it is absolutely necessary just like war is at times. This is all part of the war on crime.
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is really a dumb article. "Each agency involved should have standards in place to determine if and when a high-speed chase is warranted." I am sure they do have standards but not every case is the same and they don't have time to call a meeting to see how to handle each little decision. I for one WILL NOT criticize law enforcement in the decisions they have to make in a split second and yes sometimes they will probably not make the best decisions but that just the nature of the job - would would rather have them make a not so wise split decision than not have any law enforcement at all - so before you crticize think about the nature of their job and what they have to do and the amount they get paid to do it and if you think you could do a better job then get out there and do it!!!
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I, too, would say that law enforcement is better at snap decisions than the Democrat Editorial Board.
In hindsight, anyone could have stopped him at the bridge, at the hospital, at the Homochitto, etc. -- or warned against the possible dangers.
Few agencies have the luxury of sitting in judgement by hindsight as their primary focus -- and the DEB should temper it's congratulations of itself by that recognition.
Posted by DUCKHUNTER (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it definitely should've been handled differently, like radioing ahead to clayton and ferriday and have the CPSO on standby. there are two bridges b/w sicily island and ferriday and another b/w concordia parish and natchez, it could've ended at any of these with a little radio chatter. a little bit of communication could've gone a long way, BUT every1 (PD) wants to be the 1 to take care of the problem W/O as much help as possible.
BUT DON'T JUDGE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SNAP DECISIONS EVERYDAY THAT COULD AFFECT EVERY1.
DEMOCRAT EDITORIAL BOARD, STICK TO REPORTING THE CHASE (AND "CHOOSING" NOT TO USE SPELL CHECK) AND LET THE UNDERPAID PROTECTORS CHOOSE TO MAKE THEIR LIFE-THREATENING DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION.
Posted by reneef (anonymous) on March 24, 2009 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this editorial was not very well thought out. I will not fault any PD for having to make a snap judgment. they put their life on the line every day and get judged by people that have never stood in their shoes.
They are harshly judged if they pursue them and if they don't pursue them people complain.
Posted by honeybee74 (anonymous) on March 25, 2009 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they should have been pursued but come on all the law officers that were involved and this dude beatem' all...who has the better brain obviously the crazed driver....the police (not all) around here abuse there power.....most of these high speed pursuits end up with someone dieing because the police push these people through our town making them run even faster....if u can catchem' catchem' if u and 10 others can't u might as well back offfff...............i am glad no one was killed...funny thing is the dude must have gotten away cuz u haven't heard anything about him being caught have u.....and u won't..
Posted by reneef (anonymous) on March 26, 2009 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In this particular case it sounds to me like the officers in LA should have radioed Natchez before he hit the bridge. By the time NPD know about it they didn't have much time to do anything.
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