New, stricter NYPD vehicle pursuit policy announced by police commissioner

A new guideline for Police Department automobile pursuits was unveiled by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Wednesday.

The policy establishes rules and requirements for when cops are allowed to pursue vehicles. While enabling law enforcement to capture people wanted in violent and major instances, these rules are said to increase the safety of both NYPD personnel and civilians.

In a statement, Tisch said, “Our officers deserve clear guidance and smart protocols when deciding whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit on our streets, as New York is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.” Pursuits for infractions and low-level crimes can be both needless and potentially hazardous, and the NYPD’s enforcement actions must never endanger the public or the officers.

In an effort to safeguard both police and New York City citizens, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced modifications to the department’s car chase policy. This December 30, 2023, file photo depicts a damaged NYPD police car that was pursuing a car before it crashed and caught fire. (The Staten Island Advance’s Owen Reiter)(The Staten Island Advance’s Owen Reiter)

She said that such pursuits are no longer necessary because of the sophisticated instruments used in modern policing, which enable the safe and efficient capture of criminals. Our police officers will now have precise guidelines for when to start, carry out, and end these pursuits. Along with requiring more thorough and prompt documentation when such pursuits take place, this new policy will also increase oversight over them. These significant adjustments will significantly enhance the NYPD’s service to the city and make both the public and the police safer.

The modified pursuit policy has several significant modifications, one of which is the restriction of officer discretion. According to this new guideline, only the most violent and significant crimes (violent misdemeanors and felonies) will provide NYPD officers the authority to start a pursuit. Suspects will not be allowed to be pursued by officers for non-violent misdemeanors, traffic tickets, or other offenses.

The location and whether the pursuit is in a residential neighborhood, close to a school, or near a playground will also be taken into consideration.

This policy will give supervisors the extra duty of actively monitoring and controlling pursuits, including determining the chase’s speed and requesting specialized units when needed.

According to the NYPD, officers who end a pursuit because of safety concerns will not face criticism or disciplinary action.

Improvements in technology will also guarantee adherence and document these efforts. The NYPD will monitor car pursuits once a month to make sure these policies are being followed and to find areas that could use improvement.

Along with requiring an annual report on the policy and reporting processes, the policy modification would also establish mandatory academy training on the subject.

Chief of Department John Chell stated, “Keeping the citizens of this great city safe is our main goal every minute of every day.” In order to do that, we need to pursue criminals when appropriate and stay our hand when the risks to the public and to our cops outweigh the benefits. Our updated policy achieves that crucial balance and will increase community and police safety in our city.

About 25% of the 2,278 car chases that took place in 2024, according to the NYPD, ended in a collision, property damage, or bodily injury. Of those 2,278 pursuits, 67% were triggered by an individual fleeing a car stop, many of which would no longer be permitted under this new policy.

The policy will take effect on February 1, 2025, enabling all NYPD uniformed personnel to participate in training in the coming days.

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