Article
Summer | 2025
Pursuits in Context:
Evaluating the Necessity and Consequences of Vehicle Pursuits
By Louis M. Dekmar
Summer | 2025
In 2006, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) issued its Law Enforcement Pursuits in Georgia: Review and Recommendations white paper, which recommended that all state-certified agencies begin systematically reporting pursuit data. Since then, the data collection process has evolved significantly, moving from general guidance to a more structured, statewide reporting system. This initiative has enabled consistent and detailed reviews of vehicle pursuits by participating law enforcement agencies, offering valuable insight into pursuit frequency, causes, outcomes, and policy implications.
Georgia has over 1,100 law enforcement agencies operating at various jurisdictional levels, including state, county, city, university, and special jurisdictions. In the three years from 2022 through 2024, about 23% of Georgia’s law enforcement agencies voluntarily reported a total of 5,753 vehicle pursuits, with participation from an average of 232 agencies each year. In parallel, case reviews and agency assessments have highlighted patterns and consequences in pursuit practices. These findings reveal that while many pursuits are justified, each must be assessed through the dual lenses of necessity and proportionality. An evaluation of statewide pursuit data alongside case analysis indicates significant opportunities for improvement in policy development, supervision, and officer training.
Scope and Frequency
The GACP data shows a substantial volume of pursuit activity: 2,034 in 2022, 1,944 in 2023, and 1,775 in 2024, totaling 5,753 pursuits over the three-year period. These pursuits involved a broad range of agencies, including municipal departments, campus police, sheriff’s offices, and multi-jurisdictional task forces. Notably, more than 62% of pursuits were initiated by officers with seven years or less of law enforcement experience. This figure is consistent with field observations and case analysis indicating that less-experienced officers are more likely to initiate pursuits, especially in discretionary contexts.
Policy Environment
Over 99% of reporting agencies had pursuit policies in place. The few agencies that did not have a policy were investigative or regulatory law enforcement units such as district attorney’s office investigative units, arson squads, etc. However, the nature and restrictiveness of these policies varied considerably. Approximately 64% of agencies adopted restrictive pursuit policies, typically limiting pursuits to violent felonies. Around 28% maintained permissive policies that relied heavily on officer discretion, while roughly 1% adopted prohibitive policies that barred pursuits entirely. Although the presence of a policy is critical, enforcement and supervision are equally essential. Case and agency assessments or reviews have consistently found that written policies do not always translate into field practice, particularly when policies lack clarity or when consequences are inconsistently applied.
Pursuit Outcomes
Across all 5,753 pursuits, outcomes varied widely: 17% were terminated by officers, 11% by supervisors, 20% ended voluntarily without intervention, 21% concluded with a crash that did not involve tactical police action, and 18% required tactical intervention. Approximately 7% of pursuits ended with the suspect evading capture. Among tactical terminations, the precision immobilization technique (PIT) accounted for nearly 54% of interventions. These varied outcomes underscore the importance of real-time risk assessment, clear policy guidance, and consistent after-action review.
Initiating Causes
One of the most significant findings is that only 9.6% of pursuits were initiated in response to a forcible felony. Another 11% were linked to stolen vehicles and 4.5% involved suspected driving under the influence (DUI). The balance of pursuits, 75%, was prompted by traffic violations such as speeding, reckless driving, or improper vehicle registration, other violations, misdemeanors, or unknown reasons. These statistics raise critical questions about proportionality. Particularly concerning is the fact that 40 percent of vehicle pursuits involve speeds exceeding the posted limit by 51 miles per hour or more. Given the dangers associated with high-speed pursuits, initiation thresholds should more directly reflect the severity and public safety risk of the underlying offense.
Fatalities and Injuries
Over the three-year period, a total of 30 fatalities occurred as a result of vehicle pursuits, representing approximately 1 fatality for every 192 pursuits. These included 19 offenders, 7 passengers, and 4 uninvolved third-party civilians. Although no officer fatalities were reported by participating agencies, two Georgia law enforcement officers died in pursuit-related incidents in 2024. Their agencies did not submit data to the GACP system, highlighting significant gaps in statewide reporting.
Injury reports reflect similarly sobering figures: 84 officers were injured, along with 544 offenders and 96 third-party civilians. Particularly concerning are the injuries and deaths of uninvolved civilians, which illustrate the broader public safety risks tied to pursuit decisions.
Supervision and Review
Litigation and internal review findings consistently demonstrate that early and active supervisory involvement is critical. In numerous cases, the risks of a pursuit could have been mitigated, or avoided entirely, if supervisors had intervened earlier. Some agencies did not require prompt supervisor notification, while others lacked policies granting clear termination authority. Post-pursuit review practices also varied widely. Agencies with strong after-action review protocols demonstrated greater organizational learning and accountability than those that relied on superficial compliance checks.
Training and Experience
The GACP data indicate that nearly 63% of pursuits were initiated by officers with seven years, or less, experience. Agency review and assessment findings suggest that while younger officers often demonstrate high motivation and initiative, they may also lack the experience and maturity necessary for sound judgment in rapidly evolving scenarios. Many agencies provide only minimal training in pursuit tactics beyond the police academy. Agencies that invest in scenario-based, context-specific training, particularly in urban or campus environments, report fewer injuries and demonstrate stronger legal defensibility in litigation.
Liability and Legal Context
Case reviews frequently involve assessment of whether agency actions are consistent with constitutional standards and accepted best practices. Civil liability exposure often centers on whether a pursuit was reasonable at initiation, whether conditions were reassessed during the event, and whether the pursuit was terminated when risks outweighed benefits. Courts have found that discretionary pursuits lacking supervision or supported by vague policies can subject agencies to liability. Even where policies exist, legal defense depends on thorough documentation, supervisory engagement, and structured post-incident analysis.
Recommendations
1. Adopt and Enforce Restrictive Initiation Policies Tied to Violent Crimes
Agencies should limit pursuits to offenses involving violent crimes such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, homicide, or any other crime of violence or felony as authorized by the agency and approved by the on-duty supervisor. This ensures that the level of force and risk introduced by a pursuit is commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. Effective policies should also incorporate decision-making frameworks that account for external risk factors such as time of day, environmental conditions, and population density.
2. Require Immediate Supervisory Notification and Approval
Supervisors should be notified immediately at the initiation of a pursuit and must either authorize continuation or order termination based on a rapid risk-benefit assessment. This oversight is critical to prevent escalation and to ensure that pursuits are consistent with policy and situational context.
3. Implement Mandatory, Scenario-Based Pursuit Training for All Field Officers
Training must go beyond static policy review. Agencies should provide dynamic, scenario-based training to reflect real-world conditions and stress decision-making under pressure. Emphasis should be placed on initiation criteria, communication, safe driving, and tactical termination techniques such as PIT maneuvers.
4. Conduct Structured Post-Pursuit Reviews, Including Trend Analysis
Every pursuit should be reviewed for more than mere compliance. Structured after-action reviews should assess decision-making, supervisory roles, and tactical choices. Aggregated data should be analyzed quarterly to identify patterns, gaps in training, or recurring personnel issues.
5. Develop Early Warning Systems to Identify Officers Involved in Frequent Pursuits
Frequent pursuit involvement may indicate a need for intervention, retraining, or supervisory guidance. Agencies should track pursuit involvement across personnel and define thresholds that trigger review. These systems allow for corrective action before patterns result in injuries or litigation.
Conclusion
Pursuits remain one of the most high-risk tasks in law enforcement. The convergence of agency and case reviews and comprehensive data analysis reveals that with the right combination of restrictive policy, early supervisory engagement, targeted training, and effective post-incident analysis, agencies can significantly reduce harm. Continued vigilance and accountability are essential to ensure that vehicle pursuits are conducted with professionalism, proportionality, and a firm commitment to community safety.
Chief Louis M. Dekmar (Ret.)
Chief Dekmar has 50 years of law enforcement experience and served as a Chief of Police in LaGrange and Morrow for total of 32 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia College and State University. He also received two Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the Central Police University, Taipei Taiwan and LaGrange College. He is an adjunct professor for several colleges and institutions. Chief Dekmar is Past-President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Past President and Chair of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), having served in that role five of his ten years on the Commission. He is Past-President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) and a graduate of the FBI National Academy (142nd Session).
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