Tag Search Result: Pursuing Suspects

Pennsylvania Trooper Joshua Miller died exchanging gunfire Sunday, after police pursued a suspect for 40 miles at high speeds in the Pocono Mountains, WNEP TV reports.

The Coral Springs officer shot several times by an assault rifle-wielding robber during a police chase Saturday night should make a full recovery and be home by the weekend, his family said during a press conference. Officer Paul Kempinsky IV continued Wednesday to recover at North Broward Medical Center, undergoing yet another surgery, this time to repair a bullet wound in his arm, said his father, Paul Kempinsky III.

Instead of stopping, the driver sped off, Tom said. After running over a spike strip near La Jolla Village Drive, the man continued to drive as his tires shredded and sparks flew from the rims.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision shielding police officers from being sued in federal court for deaths and injuries to innocent citizens resulting form high-speed chases should not be viewed as an invitation to law officers.

Now, emerging technologies may offer a solution once thought impossible: to stop a fleeing violator quickly, yet safely.

Any officer who's been involved in a vehicle pursuit that resulted in property damage, bodily injury, or death should be concerned with at least three levels of liability. Departmental discipline may be imposed if the pursuit violates agency policy. Tort liability may be imposed through a lawsuit filed in state court. And plaintiffs may file a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking damages.

One of the most canine-like drives I have ever felt is the urge to chase, to pursue, to catch. I must confess to an odd primal thrill I always felt when a miscreant took off running. I wish I could say my mind thought "Tally ho!" in a thick British accent.

The high-speed pursuits you saw on the old TV shows and movies had a big part in all of our decisions to enter the world of law enforcement. However, times have changed.