The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has revised its high-speed pursuit policy to allow troopers more flexibility in chasing suspects, sparking debates within law enforcement circles and drawing attention to the potential risks associated with such pursuits.
The policy, which went into effect on December 22, departs from the previous version by eliminating the requirement that pursuits be limited to individuals suspected of felonies, DUI or reckless driving. It also swaps cautionary language for statements encouraging troopers to engage in pursuits to “obtain justice.”
The altered policy aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis’ vision for Florida as a “law and order” state, according to a statement from Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner.
“While many states shy away from holding dangerous felons accountable for their decisions, the Florida Highway Patrol seeks to use every tool and tactic available to ensure dangerous felons end up in jail and off our streets,” Kerner wrote.
While high-speed chases are often portrayed as thrilling in action movies, studies have shown that one person is killed daily in the U.S. as a result of high-speed chases. Further, a third of pursuits end in crashes and 17% result in injuries or fatalities, with 25% them happening to bystanders, passengers or law enforcement officers, per data reported by WFTV news.
The Department of Justice has discouraged pursuits for minor offenses, arguing that the potential dangers and risks outweigh the benefits of apprehension.
However, Kerner notes that FHP’s new policy encourages troopers to end pursuits quickly through the use of tactics such as the PIT maneuver or by calling in resources such as helicopters and drones to assist them when necessary.
“We put focus and emphasis on the destructive behaviors of reckless fleeing felons, instead of excusing or ignoring their behaviors and decisions,” Kerner explained.
Law enforcement agencies across the country have differing approaches to handling pursuits.
For example, while the Houston Police Department recently decided to restrict pursuits to instances involving violent offenders, many local agencies in Washington are calling to undo such restrictions.
FHP’s statement did not provide data or an explanation as to why the previous policy, established in October 2022, was considered too restrictive, leading critics to question whether the decision was based on a thorough analysis of past pursuits and their outcomes.
Opponents of the revised policy, including family members of individuals killed in high-speed chases, argue that the change raises concerns about officer and public safety.
Thomas Gleason, a former law enforcement officer who lost his son in a chase, worried about the increased gray areas in decision-making for officers under the new, less restrictive policy.
“We need to enforce the law, but we need to enforce it in a way that we don’t cause more risk to the public we serve,” Gleason said.
The updated policy also includes changes to allowed speed limits during chases, allowing troopers on motorcycles to engage in pursuits, and outlines circumstances under which troopers can drive on the wrong side of the road during a chase.
Other local agencies, such as the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, maintain more restrictive chase policies, banning pursuits over traffic offenses and restricting certain tactics.
Former Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon called for justification for the policy changes, stating, “Most people would ask what is dictating this change. The deviation from the practice. I think FHP is the only one that can answer that.”
