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Police need help as they investigate hit-and-run

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - We’ve all seen the videos of a suspect running from police, weaving in and out of traffic, putting themselves and others in danger while the police pursue the person. But do you think police pursuits are necessary?

“It really depends on time of day, location where they’re being [pursued], who they’re pursuing and why?” says Sarah Lites.

There are circumstances most police pursuit policies - including LMPD’s - require an officer to consider before justifying a pursuit.

First - does the officer have reason to believe the person is a felon or suspected felon?

“Are you dealing with pedestrians, are you dealing with high traffic areas?’ says Tiffany Lafferty.

Second - does chasing after this person create more danger than letting the person go?

So consider - will the pursuit happen in a downtown area at lunch with foot traffic? How fast is the pursuit? How many other people are at risk? How likely is it that the person will be caught?

Or is this person so dangerous, it’s necessary to catch the suspect immediately?

“It’s easy for me to say what’s necessary and unnecessary. I’m not a trained officer. I’m not in the situation. So it’s hard for me to make a judgment call when I’m not there. Each situation is different,” says David Logsdon.

Third, once an officer decides to turn on the lights and siren and pursue a suspect, LMPD policy requires the officer to relay the pertinent information to the commanding officer. The supervisor will say “yes, continue the pursuit” or “stop.”

But most people we talked to today agreed, in the end, they want to see the bad guy caught.

when the police have their lights flashing to pull you over just stop. running just makes it worse for everyone involved.

Someone has to take charge to keep the "thugs" off the streets.

chase them now or chase them later.....

how would police know why they run or who they are. jsut running away from traffic ticket or a sotne cold killer.....
do u think polce can read minds or have crystal balls.....
some say chase only on serious crimes...then small crimes let them be and allow them to be bigger criminals b4 taking them down.....
the police seems to be damn if they do and damn if they don't either....
time to give them powers to do wat needs to be done and stand behind them

wat would u say or think had police terminated pusrsuit and in the end these criminal end up killing some one at a later stage esp ur love ones...would u had prefer them to chase and catch them then no matter wat...

it has to be done if not all would just run on seeing cops

Police pursuits are a necessary part of life. The officer should never be penalized for doing his job. It is the sole responsibly of the violator to stop when ordered to. If they do not stop, and it results in and injury or even death, the blame is solely on the violator not the officer doing his/her job.
The way I see it is the longer you run, cops should have be able to use more force to stop your running. It is insane to keep chasing a violator for 2 hours. If the pursuit lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes, then the precision immobilization technique should be used to stop the violator.
God bless our men and women in law enforcement.

I have one question, is there a way to stopped these suspects by relaying to other cops to stopped suspect in another area without having to chase them at high speeds endangering innocent persons?

I believe it depends on where the chase is. About 2 months ago I was in a residental area where children were outside playing on the sidewalk. All of a sudden a car comes sliding around the corner, being chased by the police. Thank God the car being chased hit a park car before trying to turn another corner, it slowed him down some and gave us parents a chance to get the children out of harms way. My point is the police should not give chase in a residental areas.

From my understanding, this man ran from the police, but no where did it say that the officers were in pursuit, therefore the man killed these 2 innocent children because an officer pulled him over and he didn't want to go back to jail. Had the officer pursued him, maybe these 2 children wouldn't have lost their lives.

The thing to remember is the person who is running has done something for the police to chase them. The person also if not caught is a menace to society. The police do a job that most people cannot. Remember, there is people who are meant to be the police and those who call the police.

The sad part of this is 9 out of 10 pursiuts end in a crash 8 of 10 a innocent bystander is hurt or killed and a stupid judge recently ruled that the police dept that started the chase even if you are hit by the police car cannot be held liable so you are hurt/killed and your car destroyed you are just out of luck another one of our great homeland security laws in use

I suppose it can be dangerous, especially when the chase is on a highway but since police are here to help I'm sure they will not be chasing after the person if he is harmless. So, whatever the police are doing they are doing for a good reason

If police could not pursue criminals why would anyone ever stop or pull over. You don't want a speeding ticket, just keep going police can't chase you anyway, what a joke! Maybe we can take their guns from them because police shootings "wow consider the possible dangers".

once again the police are getting blamed for a suspect who refused to stop and take his medicine. i read the statement about if they are a known felon, robber or rapist ect... the problem with that is very rarely does an officer know who is driving a particular vehicle or what they have done. thats the double edged sword. If you chase and the suspect crashes and burns..then its the police should not have pursed. If an officer doesnt chase and the person gets away to commit another crime..maybe even worse..its why didnt you chase

If people knew the police couldn't chase them, everyone would run!!!!! Everyone needs to quit trying to blame everything on the police and start putting the blame where it really needs to be, ON THE PEOPLE WHO RUN FROM THE POLICE!!!!!!!!!!! I could say so much more, but I know it won't help.

These people don't belong on the street. If they stop persuing them the crime rate will surely go up. Criminals will begin to assume well if I can put distance between me and the cop they will let me go. In that case why have police!

catch the low life dogs*$% at any price

I do think it all depends on the crime. If the person is armed and dangerous, then yes chase them.

I would say most of the time they are not necc because the evader oviously doesn't care and they are not going to care if they hurt someone...they are going to get away at any cost....there is always time to get them later if they run.....

What do you think?