The Chicago Police Department announced Wednesday a new foot-chase policy that officials say makes the safety of officers and members of the public a priority, reported CBS News .
The new policy that will govern the police foot chases in Chicago is produced in the wake of of two recent incidents of foot chases that resulted in the fatal shooting by police earlier this year year of Adam Toledo , of 13 years , and Anthony Alvarez, of 21.
The Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, and Chicago Police Department Superintendent, David O. Brown, revealed on Wednesday the new police regulations that will be applied in June and that will define when it is appropriate for an agent to chase on foot to as suspicious to reduce risks .
Today, Superintendent @ ChiefDavidBrown announced the Chicago Police Department’s new foot chase policy during a press conference at Public Safety Headquarters.
Click the link to watch the entire press conference: https://t.co/4yJs0UxScu pic.twitter.com/BY5kmO0Znx
– Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) May 26, 2021
Lightfoot emphasized the urgency of the new policy, given that “ foot chases are one of the most dangerous actions in which police officers can participate. police ”.
“ We cannot afford to wait any longer to implement a policy that regulates them ”, said Lightfoot . “The important parameters outlined in this policy will not only protect our officers, the public, and potential suspects during foot chases , but will also serve as a step forward in our mission to modernize and reform our police department ”, reported Fox News .
What are the changes to police chases on foot
Among its rules, the new policy prohibits police foot chases in Chicago for minor traffic offenses, prohibits officers from separating from their partners if they cannot see the person they are chasing or if the officer or person is injured.
Under the new policy, the chase must end if the officer has lost track of your location or surroundings, if there is too much distance or obstacles between the officer and the person you are pursuing, and if you will not be able to c control the situation. subject of pursuit in a confrontation.
In addition, officers should first consider whether the need to detain a suspect is worth the risk to the officer, the public, or the subject before it is carry out a chase on foot. The policy also says officers can pursue people on foot only if they have probable cause that the person committed a crime or believe they are about to commit one.
Officers police officers must activate body cameras for each foot chase.
Superintendent David Brown said officers had been using the strategies during the foot chases , but turning the strategy into a written policy would result in officers being subject to disciplinary action if they violated it. The new policy will temporarily go into effect on 11 June . The public will have the opportunity to offer comments before it becomes permanent in September.
“It is essential that the voices of our officers and community members are represented in policies that can directly affect them,” Brown said. “As we transform the police department through reform, we will continue to work with our residents to make Chicago safer for everyone.”
The announcement of the new policy comes four years after the Department of Justice issued a report saying that too many police chases in Chicago were unnecessary or ended with officers shooting people unnecessarily and two years after a judge signed a consent decree requiring the department to adopt a policy of persecution on foot.