Local 12 Reporter Deborah Dixon spoke with the chief today.

The deadliest decision police officers make most often doesn't involve a gun. It involves their cruiser, and the decision to chase a suspect. This is why crashes kill more officers than criminals. Sometimes, innocent people get killed in the police pursuit. Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher says its time to put the brakes on the most dangerous part of chases.

On this Police Memorial Week, Chief Streicher believes a new pursuit policy will save the lives of cops and citizens. It goes into effect the end of the month. The bottom line, if it's just about traffic, it's not worth the chase. January 2009... officers tried to stop a teenager for speeding. He took off and wrecked in a busy intersection. It was upside down on fire... the boy burning inside.
 
Chief Tim Streicher, Cincinnati Police: "People may criticize and say it was his choice to run, it's his fault if he was killed, what if he hits your car and you wind up burning inside or your child or mother or father or any innocent party, what's the argument then."

After months of research, the new pursuit policy says when it comes to just traffic, get the license plate, pull over and back off. So, the driver knows he's not being chased.

"If all you know is he ran a red light you are not going to pursue, what if he's a bank robbery? I don't know that, what if a killer? If we know those things we will pursue."

And stop sticks on an expressway... not in Cincinnati... too dangerous. Remember Officer Bryce Bezdek? Struck by this pickup after he put down stop sticks during a chase on I-75. Streicher say no one's getting a free ride. Council passed a new five hundred dollar penalty for fleeing from police.

"Car can be impounded, if don't pay, can double, and there's towing fee 100 dollars, storage."

Officer Keith Spurling, Cincinnati Police: "At this point, a good procedure saves lives, prevents officers from getting injured."

Some officers say privately there is an instinct to chase and they're afraid bad guys are going to get away. Chief Streicher says a traffic violation is not worth a dead cop or citizen.