The Atlanta Journal Constitution on March 5, 2007 ran an article about Police Pursuits. It seems that some of us are concerned that these pursuits are dangerous. It is being purposed that the police be prohibited from engaging in pursuits of criminals or, at a minimum, the policeman be required to call off the pursuit if said pursuit become dangerous.
“Becomes Dangerous” … that is an interesting phrase. When will a pursuit become dangerous? Seems plain enough to me. They become dangerous when the police officer gets to the point in the pursuit where the pursued is about to be caught up with. This is an easy fix…
- Police officers should be required to run slower.
- More specifically, police officers who have the ability to run fast, should not even be hired because adrenalin might take over and, even if they are trying to run slowly, they may get caught up in the heat of the moment and run too fast and find themselves in a dangerous situation.
My Foolishness…Or Is It juices are flowing. Allow me to carry this a little further. I can just see the defense attorney making this impassioned plea…
“Your honor, everyone in this courtroom is well aware of the inalienable right of a criminal to run away. My client fully intended to run away. He was intent on doing this, not simply to get away with his ill-gotten gains, but to avoid a situation that would have endangered the police officer. As my, well meaning, client was about to make his get away, another police officer appeared on the scene and blocked his route of escape. This second police officer’s appearance deprived my client of his planned escape. I ask you to throw this case out of court because my client was deprived of his right to run away. I’m sure this is expressly stated in the constitution somewhere and, if it is not, it should be.”
Would I kid u?
