Ask the Officer: To pursue or not pursue, that is the question Ask the Officer: To pursue or not pursue, that is the question (May 19, 2004)

By Glenn J. Raggio
Menlo Park police officer

It might happen like this:

"20 Boy 11 to Dispatch: I have the suspect vehicle westbound on Sand Hill. It is failing to yield at this time (ignoring red lights and siren). We are at 75 miles per hour, number-one lane; traffic is moderate. There appear to be three suspects in the vehicle. 20 Boy 11: I am now in pursuit ..."

The attention television gives to pursuits, especially in Southern California, helps skew the public's perception. The media's focus is on the pursuit itself -- not necessarily the reason for it, nor the tragedy that preceded it, nor the concerns of the victims.

The focus on the pursuit also minimizes the professionalism of the officer who has discovered the fleeing suspects and who has been trained to search, identify, pursue, and capture. All officers -- from rookies to veterans -- understand that participating in pursuits is occasionally a vital responsibility.

Q. Are pursuits becoming more frequent?

A. I'll answer for Menlo Park: No. Pursuits are becoming less frequent in Menlo Park. (I think most other communities have seen a serious decline in pursuits, as well). We used to chase anything that ran from us -- even for an infraction as innocent as a broken taillight. One by one, municipalities assessed the risks to citizens and officers, and reexamined and subsequently redefined what should constitute a reason to pursue.

Traffic infractions, for instance, no longer are considered grounds for pursuit. Many misdemeanor crimes are no longer considered "pursuable." Indeed, there are even some felonies that are no longer regarded as "pursuit-worthy."

Given these constraints, pursuits have diminished considerably in Menlo Park over the past decade. Other conditions restrict pursuits: traffic and weather conditions, time of day, risk to pedestrians.

Q. Why are pursuits more dangerous today than in the past?

A. One factor is the increase in population and traffic. Traffic greatly exceeds the capacity of roadways. No matter when you drive, you are in traffic.

When an officer pursues, he or she is in that same traffic. You might think congestion would slow a pursuit. Not so. The desperation of fleeing suspects knows no bounds. The career criminal knows that a heinous crime will bring an equally extreme penalty.

Pursuits are more dangerous and can only become increasingly so as population and traffic grow.

Q. Should we stop all pursuits?

A. Every few years, a bill is proposed to curb or even end police pursuits. While I understand the motivation behind such proposals, I can't agree that a criminal has the right to escape me by applying his foot to the accelerator.

That message would echo loudly and quickly through the criminal population. Accelerator escapes would be the main course on every felon's menu. I believe that a ban on pursuits would lead to more situations in which a fleeing suspect causes vehicular tragedy.

A few years ago, I spotted a vehicle whose occupants had just shot a man in the head with an AK-47. The vehicle fled and the result was a nearly hour-long pursuit.

How could I have faced that victim's family, my peers -- even myself -- if I had ignored my obligation to those people and the law, and let the shooters go? What if an hour later, a day later, a month later, those suspects shot someone else?

Make no mistake, all officers would wish for Scotty to beam them out of the circumstances that place them in a high-speed pursuit. An officer's emotions and concerns before and during a pursuit are powerful.

Police officers expect to uphold the law, and visit risk while doing so. And yes, that risk includes the public -- it always has. The alternative is erosion of order. Where are the risks, deterrent, and consequences to criminals if "bad guys" need only run to escape?

Menlo Park police officer Glenn J. Raggio answers questions about the police and law enforcement. Call 330-6396, or e-mail: asktheofficer@menlopark.org.

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