NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City Police Department is taking steps to reduce the number of high-speed chases conducted by its officers, following a troubling discovery that a significant portion of pursuits in the past year resulted in negative outcomes such as collisions, property damage, injuries, or fatalities.
In a move aimed at enhancing public safety, a new policy set to take effect on February 1 will restrict vehicle pursuits to cases involving the most serious and violent crimes, thereby prohibiting chases for offenses such as traffic violations, minor infractions, and nonviolent misdemeanors. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized that officers will be required to consider factors such as the proximity of a pursuit to residential areas, schools, or recreational spaces, with discretion granted to terminate chases if safety concerns arise.
The decision to reevaluate the department’s pursuit protocols comes in response to a tragic incident last October, where a cyclist lost their life after being struck by a pickup truck involved in a police chase following a suspected robbery in Queens. Tisch underscored the importance of ensuring that law enforcement efforts do not jeopardize the well-being of the public or officers, stating, “The NYPD’s enforcement activities must prioritize safety, and pursuits for minor offenses and low-level crimes can present unnecessary risks.”
Of the 2,278 pursuits initiated by the NYPD last year, a majority were linked to vehicles attempting to evade traffic stops. However, under the revised policy, many of these pursuits would no longer meet the criteria for police engagement, according to department officials. The NYPD has committed to training all uniformed personnel on the updated guidelines and will conduct regular reviews to monitor compliance. Additionally, an annual report will be published to track adherence to the new pursuit restrictions.
Recent data obtained from 911 records by Streetsblog NYC revealed a significant escalation in vehicle chases, with a surge from 15 pursuits in January 2022 to 227 in January 2024. Notably, police engaged in over 100 pursuits per month from July 2023 through September 2024, as reported by the website. As the NYPD aims to enhance public safety while minimizing unnecessary risks associated with high-speed pursuits, the implementation of these revised guidelines represents a crucial step towards achieving these dual objectives.
