Wanted Man Leads Police on Car Chase Through Santa Rita Neighborhood

Mr. Skulking,
Due to the fact that you recognized I am a Doctor without being told, I will give you a sincere apology for my earlier response, which was too brusque when addressing such a cultured individual such as yourself. Live long and prosper. :)

Understand my problem is not with you, but rather with the recently popularized idea that the police not chasing a criminal has some kind of merit. I understand where you are coming from, and it is true you can not ignore the influences of the relentless assault by trial lawyers and others screaming for someone to take responsibility, since, as you noted, the criminal obviously will not.

There are several problems faced by the police, namely, that the police are knowingly allowing a criminal to violate the law (fleeing) in a most flagrant fashion, in the interest of a perceived public good. But what if this were extended to other crimes? Do police ignore a "man with a gun" call, because he may shoot someone? Or should the police not respond to the domestic violence victim's call for help, because the attacker may retaliate in the future? Not chasing a criminal is saying that running from the police is just a cool thing to do, and hey, everybody should try it.

The obvious first question, "why are the police chasing this criminal?" appears valid on its face, but the more appropriate question is, "why is this criminal running?" A normal person, a "Mr Skulking", or a Doctor, or Mr Hyde, would not flee headlong when confronted with police presence. While flight from the police may be the first thing a criminal thinks of, there is a reason for this. It is because the CRIMINAL is engaged in a CRIME, otherwise, there would be no reason to run! So it doesn't matter so much why the police are chasing the criminal - it does indeed matter why the criminal is running. And I would surmise that, some times, the police don't even know why the criminal is running. That's why they have to chase them - because there may be some one with just a suspended license, there may be stolen property, a person with warrants, a wanted murderer, or a kidnapping victim in the trunk. But rest assured, the criminal is not fleeing simply to engage in the act of fleeing.

Finally - what if the police do stop chasing people, or for instance, say, the police will not chase you for crime XYZ, because it is not worth chasing criminals? What if the police say, the risk is too great? This turns the entire justice system on it's head. To allow a criminal to commit an offense just because they act out in an unsafe manner is to condone the act its self. It reinforces the behavior and encourages rather than discourages it.

So I end with my original argument, put the responsibility where it belongs - on the CRIMINAL who is committing the CRIME. We know the criminal will not willingly take responsiblity, but let the cops catch him, so then, hopefully, the criminal can be used as an example to others - don't run, and the mean old police will not have to chase you. An interesting concept.