This is a crucial time for cities to reach out to their legislators with support for changes to the restrictions on police pursuits. AWC is asking city leaders to sign-on to AWC’s letter to legislators urging action on SB 5352, revising the police pursuits statute to include a “reasonable suspicion” standard and striking a more appropriate balance between providing law enforcement with the tools needed to pursue dangerous subjects while focusing on appropriate and necessary safety standards.

City officials who want to see progress this session on vehicular pursuits need to make that clear to their legislators. House members need to hear from their cities how the current law is negatively impacting public safety and that SB 5352 represents important incremental progress in revising the restrictions. We are hearing that some House members are hearing that it may be better not to pass this bill because of its narrow focus – but we need action now. This bill makes important progress in providing additional public safety tools for local police.

A little more background on SB 5352

SB 5352 will allow law enforcement to engage in police pursuits with a “reasonable suspicion” standard in situations, as described below, while still seeking to balance the inherent risk of police pursuits.

Under SB 5352 a law enforcement officer would be authorized to engage in a vehicular pursuit if all the following conditions are met:

• The officer has ‘reasonable suspicion’ that the driver or a passenger:
  • Has committed or is committing a violent offense, sex offense, or an escape; or
  • Is driving under the influence.
• The pursuit is necessary to identify or apprehend the person.
• The person poses an imminent threat to the safety of others.
• The safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered greater than the safety risks associated with engaging in a pursuit.

The bill also modifies the procedures for supervisor involvement, including requiring the officer to receive authorization and oversight from a supervisor (or on-call supervisor in jurisdictions with fewer than ten commissioned officers) to engage in a vehicular pursuit.

Act now! Sign on to AWC’s letter.