Dale,
I fully understand what you are saying and I agree that we should not
put the public at risk unnecessarily. Personally, I believe having a "no
chase" policy is a greater risk to the public. If someone runs from the
police, it is usually more than a misdemeanor they are trying to avoid,
and the officer has to make a judgment call. This is only one of the
problems that has been thrust on us by the society we live in.
I'm from a generation where respect for the law was taught and enforced
in the home. In my opinion, the issue we are talking about is a result
of not respecting the rules and those that enforce them. It is about
accepting responsibility for our actions. Many other problems we face
today have the same basis. We cannot make life free of risks and still
get the protection we really want. We have to enforce the laws if we are
to remain a free society. Lawbreakers must answer for their actions,
this is not an ego trip for the officers, they are placing themselves at
risk to keep us safe. Let's not handcuff them more than we already have.
Tom, I'm still for hot pursuit, Redding CA
Dale & Evelyn Thomas wrote:
>
> Police are not allowed to fire a gun in or around a crowd, because the
> public does not want to be endangered. The public deserves not to be
> endangered by the police chasing a vehicle in a BUSY on HEAVILY traveled
> road. Admittedly the person being chased is poses the biggest threat to the
> public, but better him to get away then a mother and her kids get injured or
> killed. Out in the country it may be a little different because of sparse
> population. How does one justify high speed pursuit in the city ?
> You call it fear, or being afraid. I think of it as common sense. The
> police are to serve and protect, not satisfy their ego with no concern for
> the public's safety.
>
> Dale "chief" Thomas.
> OFOS racing.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas E. Bryant <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
> To: David Haller <dhaller@techline.com>
> Cc: Land Speed <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 6:26 PM
> Subject: high speed chase
>
> >Dave,
> >The cry from the masses here is "police shouldn't get into in high speed
> >chases, it endangers the public." (We had a lady killed by the car being
> >chased by the police a few years back.) My response to that is, "If I
> >know the police are not going to chase if I flee, why stop?" You are
> >right the system is upside down.
> >Tom, Redding CA 3:15PM PST
> >
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