Do you think that the Police should continue to with high speed chases?
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
United States
February 23, 2008 1:13am CST
Today while trying to watch everything on cable I came across a high-speed chase that was going on in Los Angeles California. The chase was being shown on CNN headline news. The chase ended peacefully without anyone getting hurt this time, which is not often the case. I have seen several times where a high speed chase will go terribly wrong and someone of not several people will get hurt if not killed.
A lot of the big cities have helicopters to follow the assailants and the cops will chase them from afar so the assailants will slow down a lot of the time. The assailants think they got away and will drive safely. That way they are putting themselves and innocent people at risk.
Do you think the police should follow on a slow speed chase? I am taking about the one OJ Simpson did years ago before he turned himself in for the murders of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman.
I was a slow speed chase in our town once. It ended badly the guy drove up to the mental facility and took out a gun and shot himself in the head. The cops followed the guy from his home all over town until he stopped. I did not see him shoot himself what a horrible way to die. The guy had major mental illnesses and had had his wife held hostage that is why the cops went to his house in the first place. I do not know how he got out of the house and into his car.
My question to you all is do you think that if a person refuses to pull over do you think the police should continue with the chase?
5 responses
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
23 Feb 08
I believe that O.J. Simple was the one who started this mess, wasn't he? It's hard to say whether or not the police should pursue these people whether fast or slow. I think slow is much safer though.
While I was reading your topic, I was trying to think of reasons for and against it. One thing that I thought of is that if the car does not belong to the driver, then getting the license plate will not be enough to catch the driver later on.
I do hate to see them broadcasts on television. I basically feel obligated to watch, but it is giving them media attention for their crimes. When they come on as breaking news, my mouth is hanging open. I am waiting for something bad to happen, but at the same time, hoping that it wont.
They sensationalize it and make it look like the cool thing to do. I think that if the cops feel that they have a chance of escape, they should pursue. But if they have already identified them and know that they are not getting far, why cause unneeded hazzards on the road.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I agree they need to weigh each case at a time. Now that cannot always be done because of the timeliness of the incodences. I think that if they can get an eye in the sky then that is the safest way of dealing with the crimerials.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I watched a program this morning where an eye in the sky was following a guy on a motor cycle. He went under some trees and they lost him. Later when the police was in the neighborhood the dummy came out in the street to pretend to see what was going on. He was on his cell phone. Well the police recognize him and arrested him. He would have gotten away if he had not decided to step out and look at the helicopter and other police. Silly boy. I was told crimerials tend to be the dummest people and he sure was.
1 person likes this
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
28 Feb 08
being a former officer, I will tell you that high-speed chases aren't exciting and fun the way the movies portray them. They are dangerous and sometime just plain scary. Officers involved usually dont have time to get scared while the incident is going on, because things are happening so fast and the adrenaline is pumping. However, I have seen officers literally sit on the hood of their cars and shake after it was all said and done. Officers dont like chases because they know how dangerous it can be and that innocent people may die. Their goal is to stop the incident as soon and as safely as possible. I will admit that a lot of the chases that take place are unnecessary, there are times when an officer really has no choice, either because of the situation, or because of their superiors. I have also seen times when the officers requested permission to discontinue chases, but were told by the people above them to keep going for one reason or another.
One thing you need to remember is to cut the officers some slack...they do a stressful job and often witness things first-hand that you only read about in the newspapers. Again, I say that some chases are unnecessary, but sometimes they have no choice.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
29 Feb 08
No hard feelings and would hope to have plenty more discussions in the future. I did like that you made me think of things.
I am an disabled RN and have seen the other end of the dreges of the earth the ones the cops bring to the er that make up to the floors. Dealing with the families is the worst most of the times.
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
28 Feb 08
no need to apologize...that is the beauty of being able to have discussions on such topics in forums like these...the stuff we post here may make someone think about things from a perspective they have never thought of before. Perhaps it is I who should be apologizing to you. I wasn't angry or upset this morning when I posted my comment, and I am sorry if the way I worded it made it appear to you that I was. I was just stating facts as they came to mind. I hope we can discuss other topics together in the future..have a good night and God Bless...
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I think they need to use their head and decide if it is worth it. If they are in a high traffic area, it doesn't seem like it is a good idea. They cannot quit, or everyone will be doing it.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
23 Feb 08
You are right if a lot of people is involved then they should call off the chase. But what if there is a kidnaped victim in the car and they stop the chase. We would all be outraged.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Yes, I believe that if the police/sheriff's dept. pursue someone with a high speed or low speed chase, they would not do so unless it was very important. I trust their judgement. The high speed ones do scare me b/c the person/person's they are chasing do not care and they are dangerous.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Most of the time they do nto know who is driving the car and what else they are wanted for. I think people should just obey the laws. (I guess I am wanting things I cannot have)
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Not always becuase a lot of the time the car is stolen like the car today. They tried to pull the guy over because he was in a stolen car.
How horrible it would be to flip through the stations and find a high speed chase and see that it is your stolen car!
