Report: 7 killed in Calif. police chase (Fresno)

Amazing how the anti-Police crowd comes out of the woodwork in here when a subject is brought up such as this, and in the past like on the subject of the police and DUI. Similar to Zero’s proclamation about the officer in the recent racial incident without having all the facts in, they put their mouths into gear before engaging their brain with comments such as ‘acted stupid,’ 'should be tried for murder,' etc. Good at bashing until they need an officer.

We can all agree what happened in this incident was truly tragic – especially the innocent lives lost. It is called reality. The reality happens in war when innocents are involved. I’m sure all of us can also agree, the police and their departments are daily put in a ‘Damned if you do, and Damned if you don’t’ position, often with seconds to decide in the ‘heat of the event.’ Back off and the suspect does harm elsewhere, their butt is on the line. Make the wrong decision, same outcome.

It is easy for the Monday morning experts to pontificate after the fact. For example, we have ProdigalSon (Post 20) who apparently isn't aware of the 'real world,' even though unrealistic intentions are good:

The police have a duty to apprehend in a manner that is safe for the public. For example, a policeman might really want to shoot a fleeing suspect but he should not fire if it occurs on a crowded sidewalk and many (or even just a few) civilians are going to get caught in the crossfire.

That is the perfect world he describes. But reality is not perfect and by the numbers. It comes in differenct forms often without warnings or hints on what is going down.

In the link below, after arriving at a bank robbery and the suspect info given, the female officer takes off to catch up to the suspect. Unknowingly, while in heavy traffic, she pulls up right next to him (the second car (dark) in the left turn lane). At that very moment he fired a shot and hit her windshield. No time here to be PC and wonder about the public around you - it's time to stop the threat -NOW!! Near the end you can see the suspect running. He ended up losing, forever:

(If the link freezes up, hit the progress circle once or twice and it will start. Otherwise it will fast forward to the end)

Shoot out

Here split seconds in public -- all rules are ignored - not a time to wring hands about the public and what might or might not happen - it is called self-survial my friend:

’Routine’ traffic stop

Another public event

And this classic from Gargantua (Post 158).

Do you disagree with those police departments who have adopted the policy of not continuing the pursuit if the speeds become excessive in populated areas or on busy thouroughfares? That is "protecting and serving." There is no such thing as a situation or set of circumstances which can crop up which gives the police a pass on that first and most-important DUTY. You do understand the word "duty," don't you?

To a degree he is correct. Not continuing the pursuit in most cases involves low-level crimes especially when the suspect is known and can be located. The bolded shows he is out to lunch.

In the 1970’s, there was an chase incident which often raises red flags with an officer: ‘Why’ did they run? Especially in this case with the car having out of state plates.

The officer by chance was following an out of state car and decided to pull into a service station to make a pit stop. The car ahead of him did also. But when the officer also pulled in, the other car took off quickly. Officer’s intuition came into play and he pursued the car. End result: the car belonged to a homicide victim. In the trunk they found the victim’s ID. The driver was his killer. At first the driver pulled in to the station to ditch him. But, on seeing the officer follow him in, he thought he had been made and took off. Only because the officer had to take a leak, a killer was caught!

I’m reminded of a slow-speed ‘chase’ by LAPD where it was on the freeway, off to the streets, back on the freeway, etc. Several times the following car had the chance to PIT the car with no citizens around. End result: Suspect back onto the streets, pulled into a restaurant, ran inside with officers chasing him. I thought, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! What if the suspect is armed and trapped inside with the public around him? Why let an ‘unknown’ escalate into possible hostages or customers caught in the cross-fire. Then it would have been turned around into Monday morning quarter-backing something should have been done beforehand – Catch-22. He continues:

I know how stimulating and cool it must be to hit the siren and mash the gas, but these are supposed to be professionals whose first obligation is to the public, not to their gonads..."

Here are examples of officers just wanting to “hit the siren and “mash the gas" according to you:

Just a little old ‘routine traffic stop’

Just a minor violator – unkown what else he was facing

Armed robber ‘only’ held up three businesses and ‘only’ fired at the pursuing officer several times

Just a little old armed bank robber, then fired on the officer during pursit

"...Many times, another cop will get in the path of the fleeing vehicle and later claim "HE TRIED TO HIT ME!!! ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON!!! What a crock of urine.

Crock of urine? Should we shocked by a childish comment like that from a chowder-skull. Put down your Kool-Aid and Cheeto’s and tell that to the loved ones of those injured and maimed or, in particular those killed in the line of duty as the result of pursuits and vehicular assault:

Vehicular Assault deaths - 2000 – present:
2009: 8
2008: 12
2007: 9
2006: 17
2005: 4
2004: 18
2003: 9
2002: 12
2001: 17
2000: 14

Right. We've all heard of the many time this has happened as the result of a routine traffic stop... NOT. A reeeal desperate stretch.

Dude, how dense are you??? He's not doing because of the traffic stop, you were wanting for a scenario that would prompt legitimate chase. That's a POSSIBILITY. The guy wouldn't run over a mere traffic stop, he's running for another reason. Anyone who's willing to risk the near automatic felony for fleeing the cops from a traffic stop has got something worse they want want to escape from.

You'd probably be one of the first to howl "how could they let this happen" if they did break the chase upon him fleeing and subsequently he went and did something horrible...

BTW, feloneous suspects get picked up ALL OF THE TIME in "routine" traffic stops. In case you haven't followed the news lately, "routine" traffic stops even result in officers getting killed (Oakland)...

Duhhhhh.....

Is that the new “I’ve been rhetorically hammered and surrender” phrase?

By your discourse, you should be a good marketing spokesperson for it...

Duuuuuhhhh, yeah, what he thaid... heez thmart...

:-O

How many of those "vehicular assault deaths" were the result of an officer on foot trying to block the path of a suspect fleeing in a car? This is "suicide by perp."

Like I said, a crock of urine. If the officer involved doesn't have the sense to not try to, on foot, stop someone fleeing arrest in a car, he should never have been issued a badge and a gun in the first place. He's a menace to his own well-being, never mind the public at large.

:-/