LA police chief proposes policy that would ban most pursuits

Tuesday December 17, 2002

By PAUL WILBORN
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Police Chief William Bratton has proposed policy changes that would ban most auto pursuits of suspects that occur under current rules.

The changes would bar chasing people for infractions such as missing license plates, broken taillights or other minor traffic violations. A Police Commission review found that at least 60 percent of Los Angeles police chases are for minor traffic offenses.

Chases would also require increased supervision under the proposal.

The commission, which functions as the Police Department's civilian oversight board, on Tuesday put off action until Jan. 7. During a discussion of the policy, most members appeared to favor a more restrictive pursuit policy.

``I'm not quite sure there is public support to risk the life of anybody unless a felony is involved,'' said Commission President Rick Caruso.

The plan follows a series of high-profile chases and collisions, including a Dec. 3 tragedy in which a suspect crashed into a family's vehicle, tearing an arm off a baby. That pursuit involved an attempted murder and would not have been barred.

Police pursuits rose to 781 in 2001 from 597 the previous year, according to Police Commission statistics. Pedestrian injuries resulting from chases last year were nearly double those of 1998.

``I believe the industry standards are evolving and becoming more restrictive,'' said Deputy Chief George Gascon, who helped develop the proposed new policy.

Police officials are also hoping the policy will mean fewer televised chases.

``It's created almost a circus atmosphere,'' Gascon said of the coverage.

The chases also have been costly to the city. The amount paid out in liability claims stemming from police pursuits from July 2000 to 2001 was $1.3 million. From July 2001 to September 2002, the city paid out $196,400 in claims.

The department has proposed tracking fleeing suspects by air rather than the ground. Now, officers are given discretion on whether to pursue suspects. The senior officer involved in the chase has the responsibility to decide whether to end a pursuit.

Last month the 4th District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana commented in an opinion involving a Westminster police officer who chased a stolen car through a high school campus in 1995. The suspect's car hit a trash bin and struck a bystander who was gravely injured.

``We urge the Legislature to revisit this statute and seriously reconsider the balance between public entity immunity and public safety,'' the court stated in its opinion. ``The balance appears to have shifted too far toward immunity and left public safety, as well as compensation for innocent victims, twisting in the wind.''

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)