Seems like an open and shut case of...oh, it was a cop? nvm

[Old Geek]

If a cop is chasing a bad guy and mistakenly hits another car during the chase, should he pay the price? Afterall, he was speeding and likely driving recklessly too.

The duties of the job have certain risks. In this case, the city should have known about this risk and mitigated it. When it failed to do so, it told the officers by this omission that it is condoned. Likely the entire police force uses them while driving.

I believe that every person in the country should be held accountable for negligent behavior. If an officer involved in a high speed chase follows his training and common sense, he is not negligent. If he's an adrenaline junky and focuses on catching the offender with no concern about the rest of the citizens, he is.

I don't know whether or not the city should have known about the risk. I have employees. I don't tell then not to stick screwdrivers into the power supplies or spray solvent in their eyes. I think this particular case was one where the officer flat fsked up and needs to disciplined for it.

 

[pete480]

The cop is at fault. No one forced him to reply to an email while driving.

 

[denverpilot]

If a cop is chasing a bad guy and mistakenly hits another car during the chase, should he pay the price? Afterall, he was speeding and likely driving recklessly too.

The duties of the job have certain risks. In this case, the city should have known about this risk and mitigated it. When it failed to do so, it told the officers by this omission that it is condoned. Likely the entire police force uses them while driving.

Actually yes. Most jurisdictions have moved to a no high speed chase policy. I hear dispatchers tell officers the Sergeant has called for all units to "slow it down". The high speed chase has been shown clearly to be more dangerous to the public for everything except an armed suspect killing innocents than any other option.

Generated by a feeling by the public watching too much Hollywood, that they were useful.

You forget there is no such thing as "the city". That's a bastardization created by our laws. Just as bad as "the corporation". There are only individuals making decisions. The very first guy to say, "Let's put laptops and data links in squad cars," needed to stop and say, "And we should also order the lockout feature when the vehicles are in gear or set policy. I'll tell the boss he should do that."

And everyone on down through the chain who installed, tested, and implemented them, including the USERS should have said, "No. I will not do that."

You can blame your life on others and hide behind poorly written law, or stand up and be an adult member of society with a brain.

 

[comanchepilot]

Cop cars have brakes, brake lights, emer flashers, light bar, 2 way radio, sirens. I'm sure unless they are in high speed pursuit, they can pull over and text just like a citizen. If they are in high speed pursuit that's what the radio is for. No excuses.

Ask ANY police officer and they will clearly tell you they are special. The rules do not apply to them. They are 'specially' trained to hold the phone in one hand, type on the computer with the other, steer with their knees 10 mph over the limit. And when they cause an accident, it is ALWAYS someone else's fault.

All you need to do is check the responses of PD's to vehicular accidents - when was the last time a police officer received a citation for driving in such a manner as to be illegal, reckless or be responsible for an accident?

Connecticut had a Statie drunk on the job who pled guilty and sought an accelerated form of probation and who STILL has not lost his job yet. . .