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“If it is a known violent offender, a police pursuit may be necessary, but risking the lives of innocent people is not in any way worth recovering stolen property.”

Totally agree. I support and admire the sacrifices of police, but I was on the other end of this at one point, and it changed my perspective quite a bit.

Years ago my wife was getting on the interstate after having stopped at the bank in our town. She noticed when she left the bank a police car speeding away with lights flashing. When she got on the interstate she noted that there were essentially no cars, and she thought this was very strange. She was in the left lane, and a car came flying by at extremely high speed, passing her on the left (using the shoulder). The car came so close to her, and was going so fast, that her car bounced up and down on the shocks and started swaying. Right after that multiple police cars, all traveling at equally high speed, passed her. Turns out that the police were chasing a burglary ‘suspect’, and that during this chase a police car had crashed and a police officer was killed. The police were so angry they were absolutely committed to catching this guy, but they didn't do enough to protect the public. They had closed some of the entrance ramps, but not all, and it put my wife is great danger.

I called the office of a very well-known Senator from our state, and complained. I spoke to one of his assistants, and told her that in the context of modern law enforcement they didn't need to put the public at risk, but could radio ahead for help, and even have a helicopter pursue. She said “so do you want us to let criminals get away?” I told her, ‘do you think that response is what the Senator would want to be broadcast on the news in this election year?’ She immediately asked my name, which I told her.

I was out of town when this happened, and was pretty shaken. I could have lost my wife. The police actually did call ahead and had a ‘spike’ strip planted across the interstate. It punctured the tires of the suspect’s car, and they caught him.

I'm just saying that police need to think of public safety, even when in hot pursuit.