Fifteen Forever
A Blog on the Unchosen Path
Imagine a quiet street suddenly turned into a scene of horror as a high-speed police chase ends in a fiery crash. Innocent bystanders, unaware of the approaching danger, are engulfed in flames, suffering severe head and body trauma. Some never make it, while others are left in a vegetative state or with life-altering injuries that demand round-the-clock care.
This heartbreaking reality has persisted for over a century, tracing back to the days before the first Model-T rolled off Ford’s assembly line in 1913 (pictured below). And yet, here we are, repeating the same mistakes.
Each new tragedy strengthens my conviction that those with the power to enact change remain passive, viewing these innocent lives as mere collateral damage. It’s time to challenge our law enforcement leaders to find and use safer methods. We must demand that our legislators enact just laws to protect innocent bystanders. Our judges must stop allowing fleeing drivers to escape justice. We should never consider the deaths or injuries of innocent victims of police pursuits as acceptable collateral damage.
We must invest in comprehensive officer pursuit training and advanced pursuit reduction technologies. This includes upgrading communication systems, fostering interagency cooperation, and employing more detectives to conduct investigations to capture these suspects another way—a safer way.
The hardest part is witnessing the slow pace of progress, as we continue to see these deadly chases play out, leaving behind a trail of needless suffering.
In 2023, reports show the death toll is rising from one a day to
Almost Two a Day—Killed by Police Pursuit Crashes
more than 1/3 of those killed are innocent bystanders
Thousands suffer life-altering injuries.
Our blog will be live by October 30th to share insights on the risks of police chases to innocent bystanders and police officers.
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