In response to a surge in police pursuits resulting in crashes, injuries and fatalities, the Houston Police Department (HPD) has re-evaluated its pursuit policy, introducing several changes to restrict chases to incidents involving known violent offenders.
The changes were implemented in response to increased scrutiny and a recent report by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The report advocated for restricting chases to instances involving violent crimes or suspects posing an imminent threat to public safety.
According to the revised policy, HPD officers are prohibited from initiating pursuits for minor offenses, traffic violations or misdemeanor warrants. Additionally, all pursuits now require supervisor approval, exceeding the two-rule pursuit policy suggested by the PERF.
In the last month, there have been more than a dozen police pursuits in the Houston area that have resulted in accidents, with at least five involving the HPD.
The report challenges what it refers to as common “myths” about police chases, citing research from Florida that found no significant increase in individuals fleeing law enforcement when pursuits were scaled back. It also dispelled the notion that more restrictive chase policies led to higher crime rates, despite officials in other states across the country making contrary claims.
Houston Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, an advocate for tightening police chase policies, called for policy changes and a shift in police culture.
“It doesn’t matter what you make as a policy; it must be enforced and followed. So I think that could be a problem as well because I don’t know how indoctrinated the police officers have been on this,” she said.
A Houston Chronicle investigation revealed a sharp rise in HPD pursuits over the past four years, with a total of over 6,300 chases resulting in 27 fatalities and more than 700 injuries.
The report also shed more light on Harris County Sherriff’s Office data, indicating that out of 410 pursuits in 2020, only three ended in murder charges, with the majority involving minor offenses like DWI, stolen cars or drug possession.
While Evans-Shabazz acknowledged the new policy as a step forward, she believes more work needs to be done.
“You have to give things an opportunity to see if they are going to be successful, but certainly I’m looking forward to further engagement with our criminal justice, our criminal safety committee to see if there are other things we can tweak,” she stated.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, who released a revised pursuit policy in September 2023, said the department is committed to minimizing risks to officers and the public.
Finner called for increased penalties for fleeing suspects causing danger to the community, noting that the department has been involved in over 1,300 pursuits in the past year, representing a 26% increase compared to the previous year.
He also said that it was important for officers to evaluate various factors before engaging in a pursuit, including vehicle and road conditions, traffic, and the potential for harm to officers and the public.
The revised policy also introduces unique training and tactics aimed at preventing pursuits before they start.
Finner stated that tactics would not be disclosed publicly to avoid giving criminals an advantage. The department plans to hold individuals accountable for policy violations, with officers facing stiff discipline if injuries or fatalities occur during a pursuit.
