Hot pursuits constantly make the headlines.
For example, everyone remembers O.J. Simpson’s infamous White Bronco slowly gliding across the highways of Southern California. A whopping 95 million viewers tuned in for that.
But that was a slow-speed chase. And, thankfully, no one got hurt.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in a recent chase here in Jefferson.
The Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office was involved in a chase with shoplifters who fled Lakeside Shopping Center.
During the chase, one of the police vehicles hit a car that wasn't involved in the chase, resulting in the death of two teenage girls.
It’s an extreme tragedy that forces us to ask if it was avoidable. And, if so, how?
I interviewed Ronal Serpas, former NOPD Chief and Professor of Practice in the Department of Criminal Justice at Loyola, to get his insight into how police can simultaneously balance chasing criminals in vehicles with ensuring they don’t hurt innocent bystanders.