Police automobile pursuits have taken heavy criticism in recent years. Each year 35-40% of all police pursuits end in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute reported that 360 people are killed each year as a result of police pursuits, the majority of which were innocent bystanders (Dempsey & Forst, 2010). Why is this? The police practice of using high-powered vehicles to chase speeding motorists has resulted in numerous accidents, injuries, and deaths of innocent civilians, police officers, and pursued drivers. With the rise of lawsuits, injuries, and deaths, many police departments are reevaluating their pursuit policies. The California Highway Patrol conducted a study and concluded that although there are risks in high-speed pursuits, the results are worth the risks (Dempsey & Forst, 2010). Some police agencies are now telling their officers to discontinue a pursuit under certain conditions or that certain conditions must exist to even start a pursuit. Should police pursuits be permitted?If so, under what circumstances? What would you say to the family of those injured as a result of a police pursuit?

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