Michigan State Police amend policy on high-speed pursuits

Michigan State Police amended its policy on high-speed chases in an effort to reduce risks to bystanders and officers, the agency announced Thursday.

The policy change takes effect immediately. It restricts troopers to engage in a pursuit only if there is probable cause to believe the driver or occupants in a vehicle have committed a life-threatening or violent felony, state police said in a release.

The number of high-speed chases have slightly increased since 2022, police reported.

"High-speed pursuits are one of the most dangerous circumstances police officers face," said Col. James F. Grady II, director of MSP. "A key consideration in any pursuit must be the seriousness of the underlying crime and whether the risks of a pursuit outweigh the public safety benefits of immediately apprehending the suspect.

"In all decisions, protecting lives — that of innocent bystanders, police officers and fleeing suspects — is of paramount importance and it is for this reason we have revised our policy."

In 2023, troopers engaged in 236 pursuits, up one from 2022, according to the release.

State police have been involved in 33 chases so far this year.

On average nationally, crashes occur in at least 30% of vehicle chases, and injuries or fatalities occur in 5% to 17% of pursuits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

jaimery@detroitnews.com