Callahan said law enforcement procedures should be up to department heads who have the appropriate expertise and training. He said he was looking into challenging the village board's disciplinary action in court. I hate to do that. About half of all high-speed police pursuits result in traffic accidents, and about half of those result in injuries or deaths, Hastings Police Chief Larry Thoren said recently. Which is why he prefers to err on the side of caution when it comes to chasing suspected lawbreakers.
Pursuits are a no-win situation.
Chris Mason, village marshal for Fairfield and Glenvil, takes a similar view. A lot of unknown factors might appear. Nevertheless, pursuits sometimes are necessary. The village boards of Fairfield and Glenvil are working on a new pursuit policy, which could entail considerable discussion, Mason said. The general policy he is following now limits pursuit of misdemeanor offenders to five miles beyond village boundaries.