On Tuesday (May 4) APD's newly appointed Chief of Police, Rodney Bryant officially signed new policy that will allow officers to give chase to vehicles that refuse to pull over.
Last year, APD's former police Chief Erika Shields prohibited officers from pursuing fleeing suspects after a series of high-speed chases left innocent drivers dead. Now, Shields' "no-chase" policy has been altered.
Officers can now engage in a chase only if they have direct knowledge that the fleeing suspect committed or attempted to commit a "forcible felony."
These felonies include:
Murder
Voluntary Manslaughter
Involuntary Manslaughter
Homicide by Vehicle
Armed Robbery
Hijacking a Vehicle
Aggravated Assault
Kidnapping
and Escape
Officers cannot pursue fleeing vehicles for property offenses, misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations or civil infractions.
The maximum number of APD vehicles that are allowed to be directly involved in a chase is three, and officers must get approval from a supervisor before pursuing.
Many residents have expressed to city council that they believe police chases are too dangerous and should remain banned. What are your thoughts on the new policy?