Research & Technology
Research tells us what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong.
Technology gives us hope. And yet . . .
there is no replacement for a sound pursuit policy that must be followed.
World of Technology
PursuitSAFETY's Technology ReportResearchKristiesLaw Book Club Editorials
Technology—We had that hope in the 1930's with the advent of the two-way radio; still today the best—and most under-utilized—weapon we have in the fight against police chases. Then came other devices, such as stop sticks, spike strips, computers, helicopters, OnStar, GPS, etc. Even with our best and most-promising technological advances, we can not underestimate the human element when it comes to police chases because it is still the major factor and reason why police chases kill.—Candy Priano, PursuitSAFETY executive director
Research
Immunity Laws by State
Every law enforcement agency has a policy. The big question is this: Which states require that the policy be followed?
Research by Candy Priano
Control of Police Vehicular Pursuit (takes you to KristiesLaw.org)
by D.P. Van Blaricom, Police Practices Expert
MPA, FBI-NA, Chief of Police (Ret.)
Law enforcement professionals unanimously agree that police vehicular pursuits are dangerous and that they must be controlled (Alpert, Kenney, Dunham, & Smith, 2000), but questions remain as to how dangerous they are and how they should be controlled. That debate has been ongoing for a long time and continues unabated today.
Police Pursuit: Policies and Training
National Institute of Justice — May 1997
by Geoffrey P. Alpert
The issues addressed in this study include whether the benefits of potential apprehension outweigh the risks of endangering police officers, the public, and suspects in the chase. Results of the study indicate law enforcement personnel and members of the public focused on the severity of the offense committed by the suspect when supporting a pursuit. The second most important factor was the risk to the public (as defined by traffic, road conditions, and the weather).
PursuitWatch Interview with Dr. Geoffrey Alpert
Book Club
Resources on Police Pursuits can be found at Kristie's Law Book Club.
Editorials by the late John Phillips
Technology Cannot Replace a Public-Safety First Policy
by John Phillips, President of PursuitWatch
Posted March 16, 2010
GPS and OnStar: No exception to a sound pursuit policy
by John Phillips, President of PursuitWatch
Posted April 15, 2008