XPost: alt.thebird.copwatch, alt.law-enforcement, alt.true-crime   
   XPost: alt.california, nyc.general   
   From: larwar@wi.rr.com   
      
   Phil, I am a supervisor for a large metropolitan Police Department. I have   
   terminated many pursuits as a supervisor. I have also let many go on, maybe   
   sometimes too long. Thank God none of them have resulted in any deaths.   
      
   One pursuit that comes to mind, was initiated when an officer saw a vehicle   
   run a red light at a high rate of speed. The officer pusued. I eventually   
   terminated the chase, as there was too much traffic (7 p.m.) and according   
   to my Department's Policies and Procedures, we cannot purue for a mere   
   traffic offence, or a misdemeanor, and we had a plate number. The right call   
   I presumed   
      
   Turns out the driver had stolen the car (reported later, as it was a fresh   
   steal) committed an armed robbery and shot and killed the proprietor of the   
   store.   
      
   Boy was the family of the victim incensed when they found out that we didn't   
   purue this perp until the cows came home.   
      
   The point is that no matter what the police do, whether it be chase or not   
   chase, we will always be second guessed, and placed under a microscope, and   
   studied for days and weeks after the incident. And many people, including   
   some of the simplistic morons who have no idea about what it's like to be   
   out there and have to make split second decisions which may affect someone's   
   life, will always say the police acted wrongly. That's what they do. That's   
   what they live for. That's what they're all about. But they have no clue,   
   and will never get it. Until it's their mother, sister, wife or girlfriend   
   that gets raped, and we let the perp go, because we didn't want to   
   potentially endanger another citizen.   
      
   It's an issue that will never be resolved. It's always a shame when some one   
   gets killed or seriously hurt in these types of situations. But it's nice to   
   be able to listen to some of the babble by idiots. Kind of amusing even.   
      
   "Phil"  wrote in message   
   news:5ei6tvshg10bthajc1k5d26sk39rql6lo6@4ax.com...   
   > On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 05:32:47 GMT, "!"  wrote:   
   >   
   > >   
   > >"Phil"  wrote in message   
   > >news:0885tv01a7tb1hnrmt5sqfi4fvprhhprbj@4ax.com...   
   > >> On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 00:03:35 GMT, slim  wrote:   
   > >   
   > >> A better question might be why would some people choose to risk their   
   > >> lives and those around them by starting a high speed pursuit with   
   > >> police?   
   > >   
   > >This is an interesting philosophical point, to which there probably won't   
   be   
   > >a definite answer anytime soon.  But are you claiming that the criminals   
   > >entirely control the actions of the police?  Personally, I would like to   
   > >think that the police are people with minds of their own and are not   
   merely   
   > >robots carrying out instructions, or simply reacting to criminals without   
   > >thinking.   
   >   
   > When someone breaks the law, the police have to try to arrest them;   
   > it's their job.   
   >   
   >   
   > Phil   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)