NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The NYPD has updated its policy on vehicle pursuits, limiting them to the most serious crimes, in an effort to minimize the risk to the public.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the change Wednesday, saying the new policy balances the department’s need to apprehend dangerous suspects with the safety of residents and police officers.
“New York is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and our officers deserve clear guidance and smart protocols when determining whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit on our streets,” Tisch said in a statement.
“The NYPD’s enforcement efforts must never put the public or the police at undue risk, and pursuits for violations and low-level crimes can be both potentially dangerous and unnecessary,” the statement continued.
The commissioner said technology advancements in modern policing have made many pursuits unnecessary.
The new rules—which take effect Feb. 1, to allow time for training—provide cops with “clear, unambiguous parameters for when to initiate, continue, and terminate these pursuits,” Tisch said.
The department will also require more detailed documentation and oversight of pursuits to ensure compliance, officials said.
According to the NYPD, of the 2,278 vehicle pursuits in 2024, 25% resulted in some combination of a collision, property damage or physical harm.
Of those pursuits, 67% were the result of a driver fleeing a traffic stop. Many of these pursuits would no longer be allowed under the new policy, which prohibits pursuits for traffic infractions and violations, officials said.
A report by The City identified at least 17 deaths and more than 300 injuries from vehicle pursuits in the city since late 2022.
The union that represents NYPD officers, the Police Benevolent Association, released a statement on the change: “We thank the Department’s leadership for listening to our concerns regarding vehicle pursuits, and we welcome the additional clarity for our members on the streets. However, it will be up to the Department to ensure that this policy is applied so that neither police officers nor the public are unnecessarily put at risk.”
Here are the changes to the vehicle pursuit policy, according to the NYPD:
• 1) Officer discretion to initiate a vehicle pursuit is now limited to only the most serious and violent crimes (felonies and violent misdemeanors). Pursuits will not be allowed for traffic infractions, violations, or non-violent misdemeanors.
• 2) Discretion will be guided by the location of the pursuit and whether it is in a residential community or near a school or playground.
• 3) Additional responsibilities placed on supervisors to actively monitor and manage the pursuit, such as actively monitoring the speed of the pursuits and requesting specialized units to assist if needed.
• 4) Officers will not be the subject of criticism or disciplinary action if they terminate the pursuit because they do not believe it can be continued safely.
• 5) New technological enhancements to improve record-keeping and increase compliance.
• 6) Monthly review of vehicle pursuits to ensure policies have been followed and identify improvements that need to be made.
• 7) Mandated academy training and an annual report on the policy and reporting procedures.