Last Night's LAPD Pursuit

[L-1]

Last Night LAPD had a lengthy pursuit in the San Fernando Valley. What was noteworthy about this event is that LAPD performed the PIT maneuver and spike stripped the suspect vehicle several times, but it was like the energizer bunny and just kept on going and going, albeit at slow speeds. I am informed (but haven't confirmed) that LAPD took out eight of its own vehicles doing the PIT.

At the end of the pursuit, LAPD seemed to just give up and let the suspect drive slow speed circles around them. The interesting part was that this seemed to enrage the citizens and papar***i to such an extent, that they jumped in and took over, circling the suspect with their expensive vehicles, constantly blocking his path and keeping him from getting away while LAPD just stood down and let the citizens do their work for them.

I was embarrassed for LAPD and imagined if Charlie Beck was watching this on TV, he was probably on the phone to the Van Nuys or West Valley watch commander screaming to get what was left of his units in there and put an end to this farce. But at the same time I was proud of the citizens who were saying, "I won't let my cops be defeated like this," and jumped in there to help put a stop to things.

The below video is long. The most entertaining part starts at the 54 minute mark.

[reils49]

It’s embarrassing, but I kinda get it too. Nobody wants to be the guy who does the right thing and ends the pursuit, only to get screwed by the job for not following regulations or worse: indicted/sued/career ruined for a use of force complaint that ends up on the news.

[hpclayto]

What is this "pursuit" thing you speak of?

[CCCSD]

Probably another media example of why we don’t need LE as citizens can do it when needed... Without hurting the suspect.

[RGDS]

So their techniques failed. Their policies failed. Are any officers going to be written up or fired?


Whats the Police Commission’s super transparent and independent fair and balanced opinion?

[CCCSD]

That it was done with courtesy, respect, and per PERF 21.

[L-1]

It’s embarrassing, but I kinda get it too. Nobody wants to be the guy who does the right thing and ends the pursuit, only to get screwed by the job for not following regulations or worse: indicted/sued/career ruined for a use of force complaint that ends up on the news.

My buddy, a Captain, called me in the middle of the chase just beside himself. Our common thought was, LAPD has no push bars, which was resulting in considerable damage to their vehicles and putting them out of commission. If for a moment they could do the unthinkable, put department pride aside and have called us, we would have sent one of our units. We have a "more liberal" pursuit and PIT policy. We have push bars on our units that minimize damage, and what damages that do result from the PIT maneuver are deemed to be "Operational;" or simply the cost of doing business and where no one is at fault. One of our units would have quickly brought the suspect vehicle to a halt . .

[CCCSD]

L-1,

SO or CHP?

[L-1]

Oh come now, the Shadow Man knows all.

[L-1]

So their techniques failed. Their policies failed. Are any officers going to be written up or fired?


Whats the Police Commission’s super transparent and independent fair and balanced opinion?

They probably went into the "Maniac has responded with a scornful remark" mode. (Perhaps the movie Demolition Man has a harbinger of the future.)

[reils49]

“We’re Police Officers. We’re not trained to handle this level of violence.”

[RGDS]

I should laugh, but I agree. That movie is literally training material for field training. “Add the words ‘or else’”

[not.in.MY.town]

Here's another high-speed pursuit:

[CCCSD]

True.

SO would have been that much faster...

The Shadowman.

[Mulgrave600]

We’ve introduced strict pursuit policies over the years and there have been a number of incidents where members of the public are chasing cars after we stop and using their vehicles to force the offenders to stop.

Must be nice only having to comply with legislation and not a huge book of policy.

[Retired96]

I watched that pursuit and it was absolutely pathetic that LAPD allowed it to go on for so long...

[Timsierramist]

My favorite part of a LAPD/LASD pursuit is when CHP takes over. All the CHP jokes aside, they are absolutely the masters of pursuits. I've seen them do everything from ram drivers off the road and into a ditch to playing ping pong back and forth with a suspect vehicle.