New NYPD Commissioner Reverses Course on Deadly Vehicle Pursuits
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Wednesday announced a new police vehicle pursuit policy that she said would "make both the police and the public safer," reforming a tactic that had been aggressively carried out under previous police leadership.
The new policy restricts police officers to pursuits only in cases where felonies and violent misdemeanors are suspected. They may no longer pursue suspects in vehicles who commit traffic infractions, violations, or other non-violent offenses — as had been done previously.
The new rules also note that officers will not receive criticism or disciplinary action for terminating a pursuit for safety reasons.
As THE CITY has reported, vehicle pursuits and related collisions have skyrocketed since late 2022, under the leadership of then-Chief of Patrol John Chell and with the backing of Mayor Eric Adams. The NYPD has repeatedly refused to provide data on the number of people killed or injured in the course of pursuits over that time period, but THE CITY has identified at least 17 deaths and more than 600 people injured.
"For New York is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and our officers deserve clear guidance and smart protocols when determining whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit on our streets," Tisch said in a statement. "The NYPD’s enforcement efforts must never put the public or the police at undue risk, and pursuits for violations and low-level crimes can be both potentially dangerous and unnecessary."
The changes come despite Tisch’s elevation of Chell, one of the main architects of the NYPD’s aggressive vehicle pursuit policy, to chief of department.
For the Rest of my Life, This Trauma
NYPD officials revealed for the first time Wednesday that there were 2,278 vehicle pursuits in 2024, one-quarter of which resulted in a collision, injuries, or property damage.
About two-thirds of the pursuits were initiated when cars fled traffic stops, many of which would no longer qualify for a pursuit under the new policy, the officials said.
But for two years the department has taken pains to shroud the true number and impact of vehicle pursuits, and in some cases has misled the public about the nature of the chases.
Trauma and Suffering
Genes, a public school teacher who was struck and injured during a police pursuit, said she still can’t fathom why her life was put at risk over a stolen license plate. "I couldn’t understand how a person like me walking on the sidewalk could be dead in a second for no justification," she said. "I think this I will carry for the rest of my life, this trauma of walking in New York City."
Conclusion
The new policy is a significant step towards reducing the number of fatal and non-fatal injuries resulting from police pursuits. By restricting pursuits to only the most serious crimes, the NYPD is acknowledging that the risks associated with these chases outweigh the potential benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the new vehicle pursuit policy?
A: The new policy restricts police officers to pursuits only in cases where felonies and violent misdemeanors are suspected.
Q: Why is the new policy necessary?
A: The new policy is necessary to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal injuries resulting from police pursuits.
Q: What are the key changes in the new policy?
A: The key changes include restricting pursuits to only the most serious crimes, and not pursuing suspects in vehicles who commit traffic infractions, violations, or other non-violent offenses.
