What constitutes a police pursuit?

**CraigE** · 25th August 2014, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by bee utey

All I can say is, WTF are you smoking. It is obvious by your post that you have no idea what I think.

BTW thanks Digger for your rational post, that's head and shoulders above this lot.

Of course I dont know what you actually think. But it is a double edged sword. If you pursue and an incident occurs that the person being pursued or an innocent party is hurt or killed. If you dont and similar still happens what then? If the option is available to stop the vehicle quickly using whatever means available including lethal force against the driver, is that not a safer result? We are not talking about a hostage situation, that is a completely different scenario. I am only responding should they pursue?
Never going to be a simple answer.
Both scenarios could be played out depending on the scenario and police officer involved. Either decision does not make the action wrong. There are consequences for both. Not pursuing is definitely not the answer either. More onus needs to be put back on the person fleeing as often if they dont pursue the offender gets away as often the vehicle being used is stolen.
I for one would like to see serious criminals detained asap.
Of course when I say shoot at I certainly mean at the driver if no one else is in the car and certainly not using a standard side arm at the tyres, a shotgun or similar would need to be used or other options to stop the vehicle quickly as current methods just dont work.

**Greatsouthernland** · 25th August 2014, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It's a tough call because, naturally the pursuing cops want to stop the bad guys before they do anything else, but equally we can't have peoples' lives being put at unnecessary risk.
I guess the best we can say is that most pursuits do seem to be handled sensibly, despite the stupid ways some people behave, and we only hear about the ones that go wrong. It's not like our roads are infested with cowboy cops.
Mind you, did you see that American one on the news where two cops pulled their guns on a woman with three little kids in her wagon and had the terrified kids screaming on the roadside? Blamed on bad information.
Of course, in the USA you would never know when someone was going to come out of a car with guns blazing, since they have such reckless ideas about allowing Joe Blow to carry weapons, so you can't blame the cops for being jumpy.

This one?

[ame=http://youtu.be/FyFDlpgkhUI]Police Shoot At Oriana Ferrell And Van Full Of Her Kids During Wild Stop - YouTube[/ame]

**Greatsouthernland** · 25th August 2014, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by CraigE

... and certainly not using a standard side arm at the tyres, a shotgun or similar would need to be used or other options to stop the vehicle quickly as current methods just dont work.

Sorry, but a shotgun from behind is as useless as a slingshot (for tyres).

I'm gonna go out on a non-Hollywood limb and suggest on an increasing scale of effectiveness - at least an AR15, .50cal full auto, then for the tough jobs RPG.

This one will stop that pesky 180B with less collateral damage than the RPG

[ame]http://youtu.be/kN6uvd1GeSs[/ame]

**CraigE** · 26th August 2014, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Greatsouthernland

Sorry, but a shotgun from behind is as useless as a slingshot (for tyres).

I'm gonna go out on a non-Hollywood limb and suggest on an increasing scale of effectiveness - at least an AR15, .50cal full auto, then for the tough jobs RPG.

This one will stop that pesky 180B with less collateral damage than the RPG

50 Beowulf Full Auto - YouTube

Seriously about 30 years ago my Aunties boyfriend at the time had his EH stolen. He did get it back and the police did indicate they had to take extreme action. Was a very modified vehicle with a lot of $ and man hours. He was that glad to get it back he did not question the damage to the tyre and rim, let alone the pellets we pulled out of the tyre carcass.

There is no quick solution, but a solution that can stop people running like they do needs some work.

**Greatsouthernland** · 27th August 2014, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by CraigE

Seriously about 30 years ago my Aunties boyfriend at the time had his EH stolen. He did get it back and the police did indicate they had to take extreme action. Was a very modified vehicle with a lot of $ and man hours. He was that glad to get it back he did not question the damage to the tyre and rim, let alone the pellets we pulled out of the tyre carcass.

There is no quick solution, but a solution that can stop people running like they do needs some work.

I did say from behind...and I still believe so.

the rim damage you mentioned indicates it was shot from alongside, and does not prove it happened 'during' a pursuit. So in context, I believe - from behind, it is still useless. But no doubt the right pellet size, perhaps 00, buck, or solids, will work from 'alongside' hence the rim damage...all easy if the thief stops for traffic lights and theres room to get alongside

**CraigE** · 27th August 2014, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Greatsouthernland

I did say from behind...and I still believe so.

the rim damage you mentioned indicate it was shot from alongside, and does not prove it happened 'during' a pursuit. So in context, I believe, from behind, it is still useless. But no doubt the right pellet size, perhaps 00, buck, or solids, will work from 'alongside' hence the rim damage...all easy if the thief stops for traffic lights and theres room to get alongside

They actually got it on the Murray Bridge/Mannum road at speed, but yes you are correct they must have been bloody close. The car did leave the road and was covered in dust and crap but very little other damage and was also back in the day when the police would get away with this. One of the police officers involved knew my Dad and explained a bit more than the owner was actually told in confidence, but as was 34 odd years ago, probably can talk about now.

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