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  • 22 Jul 2016

We’ve written in our blog about some of the dangers of high-speed police chases. Most of the press on the issue comes when a chase goes bad. For example, just last month we reported on a police chase outside Houston that resulted in the death of the police officer involved in the chase, as well as an 11-year old child traveling in an SUV struck by the patrol car. The alleged crime that led to the chase was public urination.

In Austin, we seem to be getting more than our fair share of these chases. Just this past weekend an Austin PD officer was suspended for about three weeks, in part because of a chase that violated APD policy. This case did not cause a death or other tragedy, but the specifics are enough to make you wonder.

The officer was pursuing a robbery suspect in his patrol car. According to Chief Art Acevedo, the suspect proceeded the wrong way down Interstate 35 in an effort to elude the officer. The officer made a decision to follow the suspect and likewise traveled the wrong way down the highway. That’s the violation of Department policy that led to the suspension. But take a look at some other facts that emerged from the case:

  • The patrol car reached the speed of 105 miles per hour during the course of the chase.
  • The officer reached the speed of 79 miles per hour while in a 25-mph zone.

Now we’re not here to level unwarranted criticism at anyone, least of all a police officer. But the plain truth is that the actions not only violated Department policy, they violated common sense.

The suspension comes on the heels of a similar suspension issued by the Chief in May. The officer in that case was trying to nab a suspected drunk driver. The chase lasted more than 10 minutes, covered more than 10 miles, with speeds of up to 100 mph. The officer was also found to have driven the wrong way down several streets. Luckily, no one was killed or injured as the result of the chase.

Law Office of David D. White, PLLC
1201 Rio Grande Street #200
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3737

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Law Office of David D. White, PLLC
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Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3737
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