Since 1980, 11,900 Americans Have Died In High-Speed Police Chases, Mostly Bystanders

"Family Of Six Killed In Police Pursuit Chase"

http://urbankompass.com/news-family-of-six-killed-in-police-pursuit-chase/

Dear Patrick,

Thanks for your email.

Good work!

High speed police chases are among my "pet peeves" as well.

Is there ready remedy?

While in Spain earlier this year, I had this epiphany:

How Cops And Citizens Should Handle Pullovers

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/07/reply-to-fred.html

Unfortunately, we confront the irksome persistence of "same old, same old."

In The United States Of Barbaria, We Train Our Cops To Kill

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/05/in-united-states-of-barbaria-we-train.html

Fortunately, we can still count on cradle-Catholic George Carlin to make us laugh through the lunacy.

"We Like War"
Video

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/09/george-carlin-we-like-war-because-were.html

"The American Dream"
Video
(Foul-mouthed but brilliant.)

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/10/george-carlin-on-american-dream-video.html

Pax vobiscum

Alan

PS "How Cops Should Handle Pullovers" is included in another post titled "Good Ideas For The Body Politic." http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/10/pax-on-both-houses-good-ideas-for-body.html

On Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 1:54 PM, <pmtoneill@aol.com> wrote:

A pet peeve of mine ... 

Editor:

 Thank you for the report: "FBI underestimates police deaths in chases" USA Today Oct. 27). I have seen far too many innocent people maimed and killed in ill-advised police chases. Now we know the situation is far worse than imagined -- since 1980, 371 officers killed in chases and a staggering 11,500 civilians; most of whom were not the fleeing drivers.

 Two miles from my home, the North Carolina Highway Patrol maintains a training course -- an actual private highway that looks like a race track -- where troopers practice for high speed chases. In a state where law enforcement frequently set up random road blocks (called license check-points), there are often drivers who panic -- some of them undocumented immigrants who are not allowed to have driver licenses and fear deportation if caught -- and run the checkpoints, which are most often set up along smaller, curvy roads and streets near neighborhoods. Chases in these situations often end in crashes.

 What we still don't know is what criteria police agencies use to justify dangerous high-speed chases. People fleeing police may be under the influence, may be mentally ill or may be wanted. Combine that with overzealous police who want to get the "bad guy" at all costs, and you have the perfect recipe for a tragic outcome. It's time to reserve high-speed chases for only those situations in which law enforcement believe that EVEN the death of an innocent bystander is worth the price of bringing the fleeing driver to justice. Let's stop killing innocent people without just cause.

Patrick O'Neill Garner, NC