Research & Technology
Research tells us what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong.
Technology gives us hope. PursuitSAFETY's Technology Report
We had that hope in the 1930's with the advent of the two-way radio; still today the best—and most under-utilized—weapon we have in the fight against police chases. Then came other devices, such as stop sticks, spike strips, computers, helicopters, OnStar, GPS, etc. Even with our best and most-promising technological advances, we can not underestimate the human element when it comes to police chases because it is still the major factor and reason why police chases kill. For more on technology, click here.
Research
Immunity Laws by State
Every law enforcement agency has a policy. The big question is this: Which states require that the policy be followed?
Research by Candy Priano
Control of Police Vehicular Pursuit
by D.P. Van Blaricom, Police Practices Expert
MPA, FBI-NA, Chief of Police (Ret.)
Law enforcement professionals unanimously agree that police vehicular pursuits are dangerous and that they must be controlled (Alpert, Kenney, Dunham, & Smith, 2000), but questions remain as to how dangerous they are and how they should be controlled. That debate has been ongoing for a long time and continues unabated today.
Police Pursuit: Policies and Training
National Institute of Justice — May 1997
by Geoffrey P. Alpert
The issues addressed in this study include whether the benefits of potential apprehension outweigh the risks of endangering police officers, the public, and suspects in the chase. Results of the study indicate law enforcement personnel and members of the public focused on the severity of the offense committed by the suspect when supporting a pursuit. The second most important factor was the risk to the public (as defined by traffic, road conditions, and the weather).
PursuitWatch Interview with Dr. Geoffrey Alpert
Book Club
Resources on Police Pursuits can be found at Kristie's Law Book Club.
Technology

A North Carolina man has come up with a way to stop criminals during police chases. Watch NBC News video on the Pursuit Terminator.
PursuitSAFETY has recently been made aware of a developing technology that may hold some hope for ending many dangerous, deadly police vehicular pursuits. While PursuitSAFETY's focus is to help families of innocent bystanders and push for the development and implementation of public safety FIRST pursuit policies, we realize that from time-to-time pursuits will still take place. It appears that the system known as Pursuit Terminator holds out the hope that pursuits can be ended safely. Steven Tiemeier, the inventor of the Pursuit Terminator has garnered support from Stephen Dintino, the United States Tactical Resource Management Center. To learn more, visit the Pursuit Terminator Web site.
Posted August 3, 2009
GPS and OnStar: No exception to a sound pursuit policy
by John Phillips, President of PursuitWatch
Posted April 15, 2008

