Councilmember David A. Catania - "No-Chase" Policy To Be Examined By Council Panel

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January 6, 2009
05:12 pm
34° F
Light Drizzle

"No-Chase" Policy To Be Examined By Council Panel

Washington, D.C. - The D.C. Council Judiciary Committee will consider the "MPD Pursuit Clarification Act of 2004", June 9, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber. Introduced by Councilmembers David Catania and Kevin Chavous, Bill 15-757 clarifies the circumstances under which Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") officers may engage in vehicular pursuit of a motor vehicle operating in a reckless manner.

"Juveniles are stealing cars and driving recklessly through residential streets and on sidewalks, lawns and even playgrounds," Catania exclaimed. "These offenders have, in effect, created a new extreme sport by intentionally crashing into moving and parked cars into each other. This is not a game, however, as terrified residents fear for their lives."

Catania continued, "The Executive Branch has given us countless reasons why they cannot or will not take action to address the problem, so it has fallen on the Council to take action."

The bill being considered June 9 authorizes an MPD officer to engage in vehicular pursuit of an individual operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner, and provides that an officer will not be held personally liable or be subject to departmental disciplinary action for engaging in vehicular pursuit absent a finding of gross negligence.

For more information on this legislation, please contact the Office of Councilmember David A. Catania by calling 202-724-7772 or visiting www.davidcatania.com. The Judiciary Committee may be reached at 202-724-7808.