Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to analyze police vehicle pursuits in the State of California as a means of deterrence and risk reduction. Theoretical Framework. The framework of the law enforcement organizational structure and environment is founded in bureaucracy, scientific management, rational choice, and bounded rationality. Pursuit development is founded in deterrence theory, and the conflict related to the pursuit is based in escalation theory. Methodology. A secondary analysis of official police vehicle pursuit statistics collected by the Department of California Highway Patrol for the time period of 19952007 was conducted. Targeted semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 chiefs of police and 1 sheriff in a Southern California county. Findings. Although there was an initial decrease in pursuits, a steady increase followed. A similar correlation showing an initial decrease followed by an increase occurred with injuries and deaths. During the study period there were 86,588 pursuits, 19,906 collisions, 28,158 injuries, and 604 deaths. The most serious terminating violations were stolen vehicle, driving under the influence, and evading. The interviews indicated that risks to the community and the officer were reasons to terminate a pursuit, that their policy would not be less restrictive without state legislation, and that their policy would not be less restrictive if there was no liability for pursuits. Conclusions and Recommendations. The study reflects that initially pursuits decreased; however, they have risen steadily since 1999. Pursuits should be continued only when a known or suspected violent felony is associated with the occupant or occupants of the vehicle. Legislation needs to provide absolute immunity for the officer, the agency head, and the employing agency if they terminate a pursuit not meeting the described threshold. Fleeing needs to be made a straight felony with specific confinement times required. Further study needs to be conducted into the injuries and deaths associated with post-pursuit actions and the adjudication of the charges both at the prosecuting attorney level and the court of record.