The city’s police chief, Bob Wasylyshen, says drugs and weapons may be behind the violence. “(Suspects) are often very hyped up and they take very aggressive measures to try and escape, including trying to hurt the police officer,” he says.
The department is looking at changing procedures involved in approaching cars to combat the problem of suspects using cars as weapons against officers. Wasylyshen says officers will also be advised to vary their routine to avoid becoming predictable.
The chief says he plans to discuss this trend at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) show in Philadelphia later this month. He hopes to find some solutions to the problem by talking to his peers.
But Wasylyshen feels the trend is a symptom of a larger issue. “There’s a lot less respect for the law these days,” he says.