Los Angeles County Sheriff To Deputies: Be More Cautious During Pursuits

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has told his deputies to exercise more caution when pursuing armed suspects and call for backup, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Baca said deputies should try to contain dangerous suspects and wait for assistance rather than rushing into confrontations that quickly escalate into shootings. He said the changes are aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities among deputies, suspects and bystanders.

Officers tend to put themselves in harm's way right away, Baca said, which forces them into a position "where you have no choice but to use your gun."

An ad-hoc committee produced a 30-page report, titled "Split second decision: The dynamics of the chase in today's society," that lays out eight scenarios in which deputies must choose to use deadly force or consider other options. A copy would be given to each deputy.

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