High Speed Police Chases

Here locally we had a police officer who was critically injured recently while putting down stop sticks in an effort to stop a suspect who was being chased by police. This officer was actually hit by another police officer during that maneuver. It is a dangerous maneuver where the police throw these stop sticks or spikes on chains to blow the tires out of the suspect being chased in an effort to slow them down.

The suspect being chased was wanted for robbing a pharmacy of OxyContin. He didn’t kill anyone or molested a child. He stole a prescription drug for pain. My question is, was it worth chasing him down the highway at a high rate of speed to catch this guy? Was it worth endangering countless lives and critically injuring a police officer in order to catch someone who stole drugs? How do you feel about these high speed chases?

We all have seen them on TV. They look exciting and I know the police train for them. I just do not feel they are justified. In my opinion, the end truly does not justify the means.
Picture this if you will: I am in my car with my young son coming home from the park when suddenly, while going through an intersection we are t-boned by an idiot who is high and being chased by police at a high rate of speed because he wouldn’t stop for a traffic violation. I am critically injured and am unconscious and my 14 month old son is killed – crushed by the impact. This hasn't happenned, it's just a what if scenario, but I ask again, was it worth it? Was it worth my young son’s life to catch a person who may have run because he knows he’s in trouble; because he has a warrant out for his arrest for too many traffic tickets or has drugs on him and doesn’t want to get caught?
The answer is NO!!!!!! It is never OK to put the public in danger to catch a thief.

Many people say well, “You are in danger if they don’t chase them and they get away, because they are still out there”. Yes, I understand the importance of catching the bad guy, but this is not an acceptable way of doing it. Just like a trained police officer would not fire at a suspect from a distance when there are innocent people and children in the way. Why is this any different? Why do the police feel it is justified to risk so many lives chasing the suspects in cars? This is a practice that needs to be stopped and stopped now. We need to explore other methods using modern technology as tools to get these guys without risking others.

Thankfully the police officer who was hurt is improving, but his life is forever changed. Our prayers are with him and his family as well as with the officer who hit him which I cannot imagine how bad he feels.

Next time though, it could be you and your children who get injured or killed. Are you willing to take that risk?