Pursuit: Police chases endanger officers and public

Written by The News Times

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Ray Chappuis of New Milford made mistakes on Dec. 26, 2005, the night he was fatally injured after a short police chase.

He illegally drove an unregistered all-terrain vehicle on Route 202. He didn't stop when ordered to do so by a New Milford police officer. He sped away.

Within minutes, he lost control of the ATV, crashed into a utility pole and sustained severe head injuries. Two days later, he died at Waterbury Hospital.

Chappuis was a popular figure in New Milford, and the community was shocked by the events that led to his death.

That's the typical response to deaths related to police pursuits. There are questions about the bad judgment of the driver who was pursued. There are questions about the necessity for a police pursuit.

The danger of pursuits, to police officers and the public, has convinced most police departments to strictly limit them.

Connecticut adopted new laws governing police pursuits in 1999. Those laws allow officers to decide whether a pursuit is justified in order to protect the public from the fleeing driver.

Trouble is, pursuits in Connecticut and across the nation generally involve drivers who simply flee when an officer tries to stop them for minor motor vehicle violations.

Rarely does an officer know if a fleeing driver is involved in a violent crime and is a danger to the public, although they might have suspicions that is why the driver flees.

Other states have tougher laws on police pursuits -- limiting pursuits to suspects in violent crimes.

Connecticut should move in that direction as well. But local police departments don't have to wait for a change in state law. They can adopt their own common-sense approach to pursuits and limit them to suspects in violent crimes.

It's a matter of protecting lives -- police officers and the public.

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/ci_11756261

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“Once they chased our cow into a deep arroyo where it fell and broke its neck. I don't understand how anyone could think chasing livestock is fun.” As a result of the growing conflicts with off-roaders, the Gonzales family stopped their cattle ranching. It doesn't matter whether it is a plate or decal, what is important is that the identification is visible. The police could have tracked down the illegal riders if we had been able to photograph the IDs on their vehicles. I think that would have made them think twice before breaking the law.”

- Eleanor Gonzales, private property owner in Santé Fe County, NM