* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Conaway
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Independent Investigation - Police Pursuit Policy and Citizen Safety
FOR the purpose of urging the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police to independently investigate and review current administrative policies and procedures governing high speed responses to emergency calls and other police pursuits; and requesting the Police Superintendent report back to the Council regarding these issues.
Body
Recitals
In the City of Baltimore, there is a growing realization that high speed responses to emergency call as well as high speed pursuits present a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Many citizens are questioning the wisdom of allowing high speed chases and pursuits in urban areas, and are urging that tighter restrictions be placed on hot pursuits by the police. A number of experts are in accord with the public demand for greater restraint in police use of excessive speed when responding to an emergency.
Given the public's heightened concern about street and highway safety, there is a clear need to impose strong controls upon the operations of police vehicles in emergency responses and high speed pursuits if there is to be a reduction in the increasing number of injuries and deaths. Particularly in the case of "silent runs" or the non-use of a siren when responding to burglaries or crimes in progress, curre...
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