When factors such as weather, traffic and road conditions make a pursuit too dangerous. When the location of the fleeing suspect no longer is known. In dire situations, he said, pursuits may be maintained longer than they normally would. It's mostly a judgment call of the officers involved. When a suspect leaves town, officers radio ahead to the appropriate county and state authorities.
Police maintain pursuit until the officers with jurisdiction arrive to take over.
Often, police will tail the pursuit as backup if needed. And, as of March, department policy forbids driving on the wrong side of a divided highway. These rules and more are needed to keep pursuits at an acceptable level of safety, Thoren said. The results of them can be devastating. Mason would agree.