Police Chases

2006-12-29 11:21:19

#1

Mason4Assassin444: retired; +552|7087|USA

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/29/longis … index.html

I have a question for debate. In America, it is common to see police chases televised. Whether it be the show COPS or "High Speed Chase" with this ridiculously bad actor of a cop:

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3451/jbgs9.jpg

Most chases have dashboard cams from the police cars recording the action. Alot of them also have News helicopters recording from above, and in some cases when the police lost the suspect, these choppers never lost site of them resulting in arrest.

Question: Should the cops continue to pursue a criminal in a high speed pursuit when thier is obvious endangerment of innocents?

And second, should these pursuits be televised?

2006-12-29 11:28:38

#2

ncc6206: =BIG= BAD AND UGLY; +36|6904

That is a very good point. Most departments have a very strict policy regarding vehicle chase. In most cases when the suspect has committed a "serious crime" the police will pursue the suspect but they will still require supervisor approval for the chase. I think this policy should continue. The only other option is to let them escape and hope they are caught later. On the matter of being televised live by news choppers most officers would prefer that they not be televised as they tend to draw spectators along the route. Yet, I do not believe news crews will refrain claiming first amendment rights.

2006-12-29 11:30:13

#3

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|7074

Don't all cop cars in the US have cameras though? Maybe that's a stupid idea I don't know, but I just sort of figured that that was the way it was, what with the amount of footage there is of just about every arrest with a car. Or do TV people put the cameras there?

2006-12-29 11:32:57

#4

Ganko_06: Laughter with an S; +167|7070|Camoran's Paradise

Most officers will call off a chase is if becomes apparent that people are in serious danger; ie: fanatical driving, crowded area, school zones. A lot of the televised chases are on the freeway where there is less danger of an accident since they can be easily closed off to traffic.
As for televising, heck yes. I wish I got the LA channel that has live chases.

2006-12-29 11:33:34

#5

Mason4Assassin444: retired; +552|7087|USA

ghettoperson wrote:
Don't all cop cars in the US have cameras though? Maybe that's a stupid idea I don't know, but I just sort of figured that that was the way it was, what with the amount of footage there is of just about every arrest with a car. Or do TV people put the cameras there?

Thier installed in the car by the police dept. The cameras have helped during routine stops where the driver insists police brutality was involved, or an officer was attacked and had to use his weapon. Its the officers built in witness.

2006-12-29 11:34:51

#6

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|7074

Ah ok. That is what I thought. Just when I typed it I suddenly wondered if I was going to be laughed at by the Americans.

2006-12-29 11:37:51

#7

nonexistentusmc: Member; +26|6870|Queens, NYC

I think all this stuff that we televise widely is the cause of United States being a very hostile, hmm not hostile but in a way very violent country. I don't know if I chose the right words but I'm pretty sure its not that extreme. The televised events give a lot of people a lot of ideas. In my opinion, televising police chases are bad, along with televising updates on war and all that stuff. We need to help everyone focus on their job, and being on TV does not help both sides at all, it rather causes faults to be more exposed therefore criticism to be inevitable. Just my 2 cents. ;D

2006-12-29 11:47:23

#8

Mekstizzle: WALKER; +3,611|7046|London, England

It's just interesting to some people that's why it's televised. Plus it's recorded so that every violation can be seen and shown as evidence in the courtroom or something.

2006-12-29 11:49:18

#9

Mason4Assassin444: retired; +552|7087|USA

Does this sound right.

The cops are just doing thier jobs of pursuit, assuming with supervisor approval as mentioned by ncc6206 above. The news networks are just capitalizing on the opportunity for the sake of ratings. True?

Then again, the footage from the dashboard cams has to be made available to the networks to be shown. Maybe its provided by the police to the networks to deter would be criminals from opposing the cops in a high speed pursuit?

BUt then thier is the "GTA" argument. YOu see the pursuits on tv and think its ok to try in real life. (Such as playing GTA turns you into a ruthless druglors/killer/hooker beating rapist.)

2007-01-10 00:18:09

#10

D6717C: Anger is a gift; +174|7058|Sin City

A lot of Police Departments don't have dash cameras. I work for Las Vegas Metro Police, and even though we are one of the biggest in the nation, we don't have them. It sucks not being able to always chase somebody when the take off in a vehicle, but the safety of the public outweighs the need to arrest the suspect. We terminate our pursuits when they become dangerous (speed, heavy traffic, area crowded with citizens). We do let them continue if it's safe if the nature of the crime is more serious (guy is in a stolen car vs. he just killed or robbed someone at gunpoint). We take a lot of heat from the press on this issue, because even if we stop chasing him and he hits someone and kills them, they want to blame us. Either way it will always be debated, that is until they make a more effective way to disable a fleeing vehicle.

2007-01-10 00:26:41

#11

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6986

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:
Question: Should the cops continue to pursue a criminal in a high speed pursuit when thier is obvious endangerment of innocents?

If you never pursue them, there's no incentive to stop for police. Just drive off and get away free.

2007-01-10 01:19:10

#12

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,072|7197|PNW

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:
Question: Should the cops continue to pursue a criminal in a high speed pursuit when thier is obvious endangerment of innocents?

And second, should these pursuits be televised?

1. Depending on the crime.
2. Yes. They should be broadcast so people know to stay out of (or be careful in) a particular area.

2007-01-10 04:08:25

#13

deeznutz1245: Connecticut: our chimps are stealin yo' faces.; +483|6918|Connecticut

Bubbalo wrote:
Mason4Assassin444 wrote:
Question: Should the cops continue to pursue a criminal in a high speed pursuit when thier is obvious endangerment of innocents?
If you never pursue them, there's no incentive to stop for police. Just drive off and get away free.

*sigh* I cant beleive Im doing this, but _{good point Bubbalo.}

Malloy must go

BF2S Forums Police Chases

ghettoperson wrote:

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:

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