FlashSWT
Member
CNN/HN is showing live coverage right now (7/21/06 @ 4:15 PM) of a high speed pursuit in Houston/Pasadena/Pearland. Are there any live streams online to listen in to HPD and their helicopter?
Tim-in-TX said:**Sorry for the soapbox rant. I just have a problem with weak policies regarding pursuit. If you don't know why someone is running, then I can see backing off a little. But this guy was an ARMED ROBBER who SHOT AT AN OFFICER. There is little-to-no excuse for backing off a pursuit such as that. There I go ranting again! Sorry guys.
RenMan51 said:Personally, I think the only reason a cruiser should chase anyone is to give the air unit time to get there. Then the cruiser should back off and let units in front of the chase set up roadblocks.
Welcome Jay. Funny you should mention the helicopter armament. I'm waiting for someone to deploy spikes via chopper. Bombs away!Jay said:Agreed. (Excuse my foray into Texas, ya'll)
Hi Freq-girl; what are the stats on that?FreqGirl said:The statistics in the after action reports around the country are starting to prove that the suspects do NOT slow down after the police disengage their cars and let the helicopters follow them.
As Jay points out ... most drivers don't see the lights and sirens until the emergency vehicle is right on top of them. By that time, the pursuee has already blown by. One vehicle passing through an area at high speed is bad. Adding one or two more - no matter how skilled the drivers - is worse.What it does open you to is liability if the car goes on and hits someone. Then the question is why did you NOT have a car there to warn the coming traffic, with all of it's lights and sirens, that this guy was a hazard that you knew about.
I appreciate your eagerness. Give the cop on the street the ability to actually DO something. I have to respond with that answer that everyone hates ... "it depends on the situation." You take risks and sometimes you loose. Going back to the school zone example - the spin-out from the PIT could have just as easily resulted in a vehicle hitting some one as some thing.So what is better..a shortly delayed warning or no warning at all?
FreqGirl said:So what is better..a shortly delayed warning or no warning at all?
FreqGirl said:You obviously know that they still run in the absence of police cars with the helicopter following, based on your post.
FreqGirl said:You obviously cannot shoot at a not actively violent offender.
FreqGirl said:It was better than racing through the school zone, however. Better an accident than a child fatality though, so maybe not a poor decision at all.
FreqGirl said:Swallow a child fatality on national television and that officer would have been crucified for not ending it earlier.
rfmobile said:Funny you should mention the helicopter armament. I'm waiting for someone to deploy spikes via chopper. Bombs away!