By Trend News Line 2024-03-25 16:30:13.
Vallejo police Department Seeks to Reduce Crashes During PursuitsFollowing a recent analysis of department data, the Vallejo Police Department is aiming to reduce the number of crashes that occur during police pursuits. The data revealed that officers engaged in a record number of pursuits last year, with a significant portion of them ending in crashes resulting in injuries and even deaths.
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In 2023, Vallejo police were involved in a total of 197 pursuits, marking a 33% increase from the previous year’s total of 132 pursuits. Out of these pursuits, 41 ended in a crash, leading to injuries in 13 instances. Shockingly, one pursuit resulted in a fatality.
The data further showed a notable rise in pursuits over the past few years. In 2020, Vallejo police engaged in 168 pursuits, which increased to 149 in 2021, up from just 85 pursuits in 2018 and 70 in 2019.
The department’s analysis also highlighted the fact that most pursuits began following nonviolent crimes or traffic violations. Of the pursuits in 2023, 55 were initiated due to a stolen vehicle, 50 were for reckless driving, 22 were linked to suspected burglary, and nine were the result of a traffic violation.
In light of these concerning statistics, the Vallejo Police Department has released its first-ever report analysing pursuit data. The report recommends that supervisors consider multiple factors when deciding whether to continue a pursuit, such as the time of day, day of the week, and the suspect’s behaviour during the pursuit.
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However, while the report offers recommendations, it falls short of the more restrictive policies suggested by national policing experts. For instance, the Police Executive Research Forum and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services have advised agencies to adopt more stringent pursuit policies, limiting pursuits to cases involving violent felonies or suspects posing a risk to public safety.
Vallejo’s current pursuit policy, drafted by police policy provider Lexipol, allows officers to initiate a pursuit if they believe a suspect is attempting to evade arrest. While the department is considering potential policy changes based on the report’s findings, no concrete changes have been implemented yet.
The rise in pursuits by Vallejo police has drawn attention, particularly due to the number of pursuits initiated compared to larger law enforcement agencies in California. Data reported to the California Highway Patrol revealed that Vallejo police were among the top 20 agencies in terms of pursuits started in both 2020 and 2021.
Furthermore, the department’s use of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology has been cited as a contributing factor to the increase in pursuits. The technology, which scans license plates and checks them against law enforcement databases, has been in use by Vallejo police since 2017.
The Vallejo Police Department’s efforts to address the issue of pursuits and crashes come amidst a backdrop of increased use of force by officers and a rise in liability claims. The department is currently revising its use of force policies under the supervision of the state Department of Justice.
As the department continues to analyse the data and consider potential policy changes, the goal remains to strike a balance between ensuring public safety and minimising the risks associated with police pursuits. The community will be closely watching to see how the Vallejo Police Department addresses this critical issue moving forward..
– Vallejo police car chase reduction strategy
– Vallejo police car crash prevention efforts.
