Published: March 16, 2010

by John Phillips
President/Director, PursuitWatch.org and PursuitSAFETY Advisory Board Member

Just a few decades ago, aside from the two-way radio and perhaps a helicopter or two, law enforcement was rather limited in the use of technology to combat a fleeing suspect. While times have changed, and there are more tools available to our officers, technology has yet to completely stop fleeing suspects.

Research conducted by Andrea Pèrez of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, outlines the wide range of technologies currently available, or in development, for use by law enforcement in reducing the need for police pursuits. Learn more about this research and access a link to a pdf of the PursuitSAFETY Technology Comparison chart. Covering everything from stop sticks to On-Star’s Stolen Vehicle Slowdown technology, the goal of the research is to provide a central database for all pursuit-related technologies. This can help departments, inventers, entrepreneurs and the public keep track of what is available to law enforcement throughout the country.

The research suggests that, aside from the technologies that we are already familiar with–like the increased ability for individual departments to share information because of the Internet and e-mail–the tools available to officers on the street have yet to be widely implemented.

“There are many technologies out there, such as StarChase, which have the potential to eliminate the need for police pursuits entirely, however, very few departments have implemented these technologies,” said Ms. Pèrez. StarChase, she explained, launches a tracking projectile that sticks to the fleeing car and allows law enforcement to track its location via GPS. Pèrez also noted that many of these technologies are unproven, thus making the investment by a department a considerable financial risk.

“The reality is that most of the technologies are still very expensive and require extensive training. Given the current economic climate, which has increased budgetary pressures on police departments, the implementation of these technologies are unlikely to top the list of priorities,” she added.

On the investor’s side of this equation, few see worthwhile profits in getting behind most of these innovations. This lack of funding can be an obstacle for many inventors because without the marketing and financial backing required to get a product in the hands of law enforcement, it increases the likelihood that their invention will never become a reality. 

Other technologies, such as wireless networking and inter-operational file exchanges, are slowly being implemented around the nation, and further development of these technologies could deem police pursuits unnecessary as, simply stated, police could catch the drives another way. It is clear, however, that until technology is readily available that completely eliminates the possibility of police pursuits, the best strategy remains a progressive policy.

There are several factors that go into a safe policy. To begin with, officers must receive adequate training beyond the academy. The fact that officers spend a majority of time in their vehicle does not mean they have the expertise required to safely track down a fleeing suspect.

Second, all departments should have a well-defined policy that clearly states the protocol when dealing with possible pursuits. There should be no doubt in an officer’s mind as to the appropriate action to take in such a circumstance. Officers already have enough on their mind. They need to know—before they “light up” a driver—if their policy allows a pursuit should the driver decide to flee.

Additionally, the policy should clearly define the suspected crimes that warrant a police pursuit. Law enforcement should only place themselves and the public at immediate risk if the occupants of the fleeing vehicle are involved in a violent crime.

Finally, each pursuit should be investigated internally to determine if the correct steps were taken and policy was followed. This serves as a teaching tool for police to improve their trade, as well as a method to make certain that policy is being followed. Aside from the internal inquiry, all related documents should be publicly available for review by the media, advocacy groups and the families involved.

The hope is that one day the technology to prevent suspects from fleeing police will be a primary law enforcement tool. Unfortunately, we are not there yet. Meanwhile, police chases continue to put the  public and officers in grave danger. In order to keep officers and the public safe, law enforcement agencies should not wait for technology to catch up, but adopt a progressive policy today.   

Copyright 2010 by Voices Insisting on PursuitSAFETY. All rights reserved.