It's the kind of incident that raises questions about the need to capture suspects vs. the need to protect the public. Area police officials say it's their duty to capture fleeing suspects. Often those who run from police are wanted on more serious crimes, police say. Mike Nichols, who oversees the driving program at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Pursuits are one of the hazards of the job, and the officers realize that and realize the hazard it poses to the public.
Police pursuits happen more often than many people realize.
Last year, the Indiana State Police had 190 chases, and the Indianapolis Police Department had 261. Chases can be dangerous, not only for police and those being chased but for bystanders. Facing criticism in the wake of deadly crashes, police throughout the country have hit the brakes on high-speed chases with better training and equipment, including police helicopters and tire deflation devices. We hold our officers accountable for their actions. In recent years, agencies have adopted written policies governing how police should conduct chases, giving officers and their supervisors power to call off a chase when they feel the danger is too great.