NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch issues new police vehicle pursuit policy
New York City police officers will no longer engage in high-speed pursuits of suspects in low-level crimes in a move aimed at keeping civilians and officers safe, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday.
Aimed at tamping down dangerous pursuits on city streets, the directive comes at a time when data shows police cars have engaged in thousands of high-speed chases, about a quarter of which have resulted in collisions or personal injuries.
"New York is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and our officers deserve clear guidance and smart protocols when determining whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit on our streets," Tisch said. "The NYPD’s enforcement efforts must never put the public or the police at undue risk, and pursuits for violations and low-level crimes can be both potentially dangerous and unnecessary."
Tisch said officers will not be subject to disciplinary action if they decide to terminate vehicle pursuits in the interest of public safety. Police are still authorized to chase motorists accused in cases of violent felonies and misdemeanors.
Police officials noted that the need for such pursuits has been reduced somewhat by new technology and police information networks that bring various commands together in real time to pursue criminals escaping in cars. Known as "Citywide Four," the network pulls together police aviation and ground units, license plate readers and bridge and tunnel patrols to monitor and stop fleeing vehicles.
Tisch said the new technology will improve record-keeping of police chases and monitor compliance with the police.
In a prepared statement, NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said the main objective of the NYPD was to keep people safe.
"In order to do that, we need to pursue criminals when appropriate and stay our hand when the risk to the public and our cops outweigh the benefit," Chell said.
In 2024, there were 2,278 police car pursuits, 25% of which resulted in collisions, property damage or personal loss or injury, according to NYPD data. Officials said 67% of such collisions resulted from a chase after a fled car stop, many of which wouldn’t be allowed under the new policy.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said in a statement that the union appreciated the new policy but said it would take time to assess its effectiveness.
"It is always an issue," Chris Herrmann, associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said about the danger of car pursuits. "The more populated the city, the more accidents can occur."
More officers are killed by cars than by their own guns, Herrmann said.
Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD detective who now teaches criminal justice at Pennsylvania State University Lehigh Valley, said that the Tisch directive is an extension of what has always been the policy within NYPD commands. Giacalone said he thinks the NYPD made the announcement now because of a spike in patrol car accidents.
"I think it is a reiteration of old policies to keep the [legal] wolves at bay," said Giacalone, adding that for years NYPD sergeants and lieutenants had the authority to call off police vehicle pursuits when situations became dangerous.
On Long Island, law enforcement officials say officers sometimes engage in police pursuits.
Nassau County Police Chief of the Department Stephen Palmer told Newsday police pursuits are dangerous to the public, police officers and suspects. "The policy of the Police Department is to minimize the risks of pursuit by limiting vehicle pursuits to only those situations where the escape of the suspect poses a greater risk of harm to the general public than does the pursuit itself," Palmer said in a prepared statement.
A spokesman for Suffolk County police said its policy on vehicle pursuits wasn’t available for disclosure Wednesday.
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