Police Pursuit Research Paper

The job of a police officer can be a very dangerous profession. During the course of their responsibilities, officers face many perils. Emergency pursuits of fleeing suspects is one of those perils. Police pursuit is often a possibility required to stop criminals; however, these pursuits pose a danger not only for officers, but also for average citizens who are in the path of the chase. Police pursuits occur when a suspect tries to escape using a vehicle while an officer is trying to arrest him. When the suspect is cognizant the police have spotted him, he tries to flee with a vehicle, oftentimes driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed.
When movies and television show a police pursuit, it typically does so in an unrealistic manner. The suspect always gets caught, and neither the officer, nor the suspect, nor an innocent bystander gets injured. This is not the case with real life. Police pursuits can be a very dangerous and arduous process. It can have grave consequences, and the conclusion is frequently anything but ideal. It is these tragic outcomes in which the public as well as the media often demand for the practice to be prohibited, or at the very least regulated. …show more content…
In fact, even police officials of several cities disagree on their position regarding police pursuits (Dozier, 2017). The public also is deeply divided. In an era where officers are often criticized for their actions, the argument of police pursuit is especially heated. While many people feel as if officers should never pursue a fleeing suspect for any reason; others believe that pursuit should only be conducted when absolutely necessary. There are still others who deem a police chase justified at all times (Frank, 2015). Wherever one stands on the issue, it is clear that police pursuit is dangerous to both law-abiding citizens as well as