The politics of police chases

St. Petersburg's mayoral race may determine whether city streets see more high-speed police chases.

If Bill Foster or Scott Wagman winds up in the mayor's seat, look for the city to loosen its chase policy so police cruisers can pursue suspects in nonviolent crimes, such as car thefts and drug sales. Under the city's long-standing policy supported by outgoing Mayor Rick Baker and four of the six major mayoral candidates, police can pursue a vehicle only if the driver is suspected of committing a violent crime or would endanger the public if allowed to escape.

"That policy needs to be changed," said former City Council member Foster, who is endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association, which is pushing for more liberal chase rules in St. Petersburg. "St. Petersburg has a reputation for being a magnet for auto theft and other things because of the no-pursuit policy."

(STORY HERE)

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Comments

[Bob]

How about tent slashings? Is Bill Foster for tent slashings and letting child molesters, like John Bryan get away. Harmon should have arrested John Bryan, for banging his adopted daughter. Or did John Bryan have to die so he couldn't spill the beans on the rest of the city crooks? John Bryan and Mayor Baker were best friends. How much did Tricky Rick, Harmon and city attorney John Wolf know? When John Bryan was running for re-election the Sp. Times and the Tampa Tribune were given the information about John Bryan. They caused the second group of adopted daughters to get raped by Bryan. For bringing it to light?

[Someone in FL]

BILL FOSTER FOR MAYOR

[Tom]

Why did Foster wait for eight years to bring this up? He had a chance to challenge the mayor on this while he had a vote on council. I would like to hear his reason for bringing it up now.

A few months ago a teenage driver ran from police, lost control of her vehicle and ran into a crowd of people. She killed a friend of mine and hurt other innocent people. Now she will spend 26 years in prison. I don't blame any one but the killer for this crime but others blame the police who chased her even though they broke off the chase and let her get away.

I bring this up to say its not clear to me that Chief Harmon is wrong. There is no easy answer here.

[get-smart]

Tom - Good point. Can you cite the incident with an internet link?

Did the perpetrator have a criminal record before your stated incident?

Cheers -

[awhitewolf]

...bill foster, john bryan, tricky rick ...three peas in a pod...the time is now to pull st. petersburg out of the mud. The past speaks for itself. The voters need to be aware of the failings of the past and to speak for the future in the coming election...

[been down this road too much]

All incumbents OUT... we need new blood to get us out of the mess these pinheads put us in. I'm tired of the definition of insanity.

[Alex Haak]

See what happens when a business men,and former paint factory owner, becomes mayor.
Reminds me of another GREAT business men, namely:
Mc Namara, they do not come any bigger then the International Bank chair,and how many thousant of American lifes did he cost us

"tell it like it is Alex Haak"

[Best]

KATHLEEN FORD FOR MAYOR!
KATHLEEN FORD FOR MAYOR!
KATHLEEN FORD FOR MAYOR!

[The Soul of St. Pete]

Alex,
Your foray into local politics has been entertaining, if not amusing.
But now, as I suppose was inevitable, you have taken your very minor local celebrity and used it to denigrate a fine philanthropist, a leading citizen who is striving to take St. Petersburg to a higher level.
I suppose it was inevitable you would compare Scott Wagman, our fine American small business man, to the narrow minded bean counter McNamara. Not even a businessman, but an accountant who is supposed to keep track of the activities of actual businessmen, McNamara blithely poured ever more American blood into that Southeast Asian hellhole, callous to all misery and grief. He, like you, ignored reality in his stampede toward the impossible.
Your comment is the final line in your resume', more proof that you are off on your own planet somewhere. You have ceased to be an amusing eccentric, and are now merely just another nutjob flitting about town.
Since you have declared an open season, even as you stand in your glass house, here is one for you:
You are a simpleton, fit only for snickers of derision. It is a total embarrassment to be approached by you for a greeting.
You genuinely have no clue whatsoever, and finally, now, have proven yourself to be the moron you are.

[Good 'ol Boy]

Hey does anybody on this blog ever address the issues at hand or does everyone just spout nonsenical tripe?

I would love to hear someone comment on the pros and cons of reexamining the chase policy.

Under what circumstances a chase should be authorized and when it should not.

Sheesh!

[another way?]

Believe me, I would love nothing better than to catch these rats, but I think the chase policy is dangerous. These kids don't have the car operation training police can have and they are most likely high or drunk. These kids also don't have perspective or good judgement - they'll get scared and risk life and limb to avoid what might just be a misdemeanor. Or the city gets sued....

There has to be a better way to enforce the law. If you see their license plate and they speed away from a lighted police car with sirens, take away their license. Period.

[Chris Brudy]

About the chase policy:
First, chases are dangerous. The faster the chase, the more dangerous. The danger of the chase has to be balanced against the potential danger the chasee poses to society.

Some crimes are so egregious that no chase of the suspect could be considered extreme. Other crimes are too petty for any pursuit at all.

The question is parsed further by the possible methods of the chase: high speed, or merely trailing while setting up roadblocks ahead?

Can we develop guidelines? Somewhere between the high speed chase of a gunman who just murdered a store full of Walmart shoppers, versus looking the other way when grandmother misses the stop sign.

Any ideas?

[get-smart]

I Want to be Your Mayor! Vote For Me!
I promise I will create a new uninhibited St. Petersburg PoliceForce!

'Safety First - then Pull the Trigger'

I promise you, MyForce will be killin' at least one punk a day
and if they ain't, they ain't doin' their job!

- 'OperationCleanSweep' - Neighborhood x Neighborhood - Street x Street - House x House : No Place to Run - No Place to Hide - Resistance is Futile.

- Vote For Me! I Want to be Your next Mayor! -

Get-Smart4Mayor-2010

[Since 1962]

Good 'ole Boy

Open chase policy in largest city within Florida's most densely populated county would be criminal.Council would not allow county-wide intelligent traffic signalization here.

Foster and Wagman willing to threaten innocent lives for your vote.

Kathleen Ford for Mayor

[John]

Deveron Gibbons for a better St Petersburg!!!

That is why he is endorsed by Gov Crist

[Morgan]

Deveron isn’t getting my vote precisely because Florida’s worst Gover-NOT ever has endorsed him.

Chuck & Deveron; For the People... named Chuck and Deveron!