Calling off a pursuit.

[Oscarsjava]

I was watching COPS last night (feel free to flame me, I know how much a lot of you guys hate that show), and a Palm Beach County Sheriff was on patrol, and lit up a car (can't remember why). The car failed to pull over and led the officer on a chase for about 3 miles, and then the officer called off the pursuit. It just so happens that 10 seconds later the suspect's car went out of control and he crashed into some bushes. I'm just wondering why a pursuit would be called off, and if this is a common occurance.

The officer even told the suspect, when he was in cuffs, that he could have gotten away because the officer had called the pursuit off, and all the suspect needed to do was slow down and drive with traffic.

[phantasm]

NYPD calls off a pursuit if it is deemed too dangerous to society (civilians) to continue the pursuit. IE If a guy just raped/robbed/kidnapped, you keep chasing him, if he blew a red light, you let him go.

[RO56]

The car failed to pull over and led the officer on a chase for about 3 miles, and then the officer called off the pursuit. It just so happens that 10 seconds later the suspect's car went out of control and he crashed into some bushes.

That's called 'editing'. TV and film editors do it all the time - for instance, to make something appear as if it happened AFTER something else, when it REALLY happened before :p

Seriously ... as already addressed, it's a decision based on danger to innocent persons and liability concerns of the city/county/state and the agency.

[Seand442]

Liability. Is chasing the scumbag for expired tags worth it when he runs into a vanload of nuns and kills them all because you were chasing him. Never mind the fact that he was the dummy RUNNING FROM THE COPS. When the lawsuit gets filed, who do you think will be the target? Hint:It won't be the bad guy. He doesn't have the deep pockets.

[Oscarsjava]

True...thanks for the input, I didn't factor in the severity of the crime vs. public safety.

[chris2001]

True...thanks for the input, I didn't factor in the severity of the crime vs. public safety.

You have to stopping someone for a traffic infraction is something that we all do and pretty much everynight. But at the same time you only chase someone who is running from you if it is safe. For instance if I catch someone on radar doing 50 in a 30 I will try and make my traffic stop on them, if they stop cool. If they decide not to stop I will radio in and let dispatch know that I have a vehicle that will not stop. (that means there is a chase). If speeds get to high or say rush hour traffic is there, or I loose sight of my suspect yes I will call the pursuit off. There is not need in risking my life or the lives of civilians just because this guy was speeding. Most of the time we have already ran that tag and gave a discription of the car. They will eventually come out again later that night or the next night. I know that our dispatch actually keeps a log of the cars that do not stop for us, and that we end up calling the pursuits off. That way if the vehicle comes out later that day or the next day, and another officer runs that tag; dispatch can now come back and let them know what happend with this vehicle. As the saying goes you can run but you can't hide. We will find you at some point in time.

[Terminator]

The officer even told the suspect, when he was in cuffs, that he could have gotten away because the officer had called the pursuit off, and all the suspect needed to do was slow down and drive with traffic.

A big reason why I'm pro-pursuit. You stop chasing them, but they're not going to stop driving like a bat out of ***!!!!

[Darin]

It's called off because it's getting too dangerous for innocent citizens or too dangerous for yourself. Your supervisor will probably call it before you want it called. But that's the way it goes. My last pursuit I ended up calling it off myself. I lost sight of the subject on some tight twisty roads. I hated doing it :mad:

[ChesCopPodz]

So in other words, you didn't "call it off" you lost? :D

[Darin]

So in other words, you didn't "call it off" you lost?

:D damn YOU!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in denial man :D

[lepdford]

A big reason why I'm pro-pursuit. You stop chasing them, but they're not going to stop driving like a bat out of ***!!!!

Amen brother Term...I'll chase you to Japan for a defective license plate lamp (unless too dangerous), and when I catch you...Oh my! :cool:

It is a necessary evil. :(

[bdbaskar]

NYPD calls off a pursuit if it is deemed too dangerous to society (civilians) to continue the pursuit. IE If a guy just raped/robbed/kidnapped, you keep chasing him, if he blew a red light, you let him go.

We have the same policy; my problem with this is that you never know why someone is running. It is normally not just because they are afraid of the traffic infraction ticket. Oh well, we'll get 'em another day.

[Mike Romeo]

We have Supervisors terminate a pursuit if the lead officer has too much stress in his voice.

[Terminator]

We have Supervisors terminate a pursuit if the lead officer has too much stress in his voice.

Most people are going to have stress in their voice...it's a natural human reaction.

Here, if an officer is freaking out on the radio...etc whil in pursuit, they will terminate it...but a little stress in the voice won't do it.

I would guess you mean if they're freaking out... :confused:

[Darin]

They said I sounded as if calling in a traffic stop. I thought I was being louder and a lil more stresses in my radio traffic but the dispatched said I sounded like I was on a sunday stroll.