Professor Emeritus Joshua Dressler quoted by WoodTV 8 in Grand Rapids discussing police chases and their risks

An expert in criminal law and procedure, Professor Emeritus Joshua Dressler was recently quoted in an article by WoodTV 8 in Grand Rapids, Michigan titled, "Experts lay out risk assessment for police chases."

More police departments are creating written policies limiting chases, Dressler said.

“As the focus on police behavior has become greater, I think you’re going to see more written policies so that police officers don’t have unbridled discretion in deciding what to do,” Dressler said. “Particularly as lawsuits may begin to mount against police departments, they’ll want to reduce the risk of lawsuits.”

Dressler said that “high-speed chases are obviously very risky.”

“The person who is fleeing is obviously going to make reckless decisions because they want to avoid arrest,” Dressler said. “It’s also very hard for a police officer once he or she starts a chase to stop.”