Well-put!
Whether a traffic officer should embark on a high-speed chase is one of the most difficult decisions law-enforcement professionals have to make.
The decision can depend on a lot of variables, such as whether there's reason to believe a fleeing suspect poses a greater danger to the public if he gets away than would a high-speed pursuit that might involve an accident that could kill or injure innocent motorists.
Last Saturday, such an accident happened when Richmond County Deputy Anthony Gregory decided to chase 19-year-old Jamie Lee Clark, who fled the scene in his Chevrolet Blazer while police were writing him a ticket for running a red light in downtown Augusta.
The chase ended tragically when Clark's vehicle slammed into a Pontiac at the intersection of Gordon Highway and Old Savannah Road, killing Laura Latimer, 42, of Augusta, a passenger in the Pontiac.
Controversy is swirling around the chase, not only because of the fatality, but also because of an audio account of the pursuit aired by WRDW-TV (Channel 12), in which Gregory's supervisor could be heard twice telling the deputy to break off the pursuit.
Gregory reportedly said he didn't hear his supervisor because of the siren blaring while the chase was under way. Also, Sheriff Ronnie Strength said there's no indication as yet that Gregory acknowledged to dispatchers that he heard the supervisor's orders.
Hence, Strength is sticking by his deputy for now, as well he should. A good leader doesn't leave his people out to dry until all the evidence is in. The incident is being investigated by both the Georgia State Patrol and the sheriff's department of internal affairs.
If Gregory's judgment was wrong, or if there are indications he heard but ignored his supervisor's orders, those facts should come out in the investigations for which the deputy could pay a heavy price. In the meantime, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Clark also should pay a very heavy price if he's found guilty of the many charges that's been filed against him, including vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.
For officers and civilians alike, justice should be served.
Comments
Well-put!
thank you editor...your article was straight on target. Well said...
There should be no question "if Clark is found guilty" As if.
There are numerous reasons that the deputy could have not heard or mis-understood the "break it off" from his supervisor. Unless there is a recording device in the police car that would reveal the reception and interfering noise within the car (from the deputy's perspective) then it's pretty hard to second guess the deputy's word.
The department's policy on high-speed pursuits will be instructive and will go a long way toward either clearing or condemning the deputy.
The fleeing punk is the guilty one. Leave the cop alone. He was doing his job and I am sure feels awful about the death of the lady the punk hit.
The fleeing punk is the guilty one. Leave the cop alone. He was doing his job and I am sure feels awful about the death of the lady the punk hit.
The 19 year-old punk should and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Whether the Officer heard the order can not ever be proven, he could have used better discretion in what was happening though. This is not the Dukes of Hazzard and with the amount of Police in the area he could have called ahead to set up road blocks by following back, but keeping the fleeing trash in his sights until help could be in place. I would love to see a new law (nation-wide) that when pulled over by Law enforcement you must throw your keys from the ignition out the window, it can stop alot of the fleeing. My condolences to the family that has lost their loved one in this tragedy.
There would be more of a case against the deputy had a bystander or someone in another vehicle was killed or injured. While the young woman is a victim, she is a victim of Clark's, not the deputy.
Clark is the main one responsible, but for you people who act like the cop holds no responsibility are clueless. The hyped up steroid using, former high school bullies are not out there for the "good" of the community.
yay for the fuzz
If Clark had committed a violent crime, a high speed chase was justified. However, Clark was being written a ticket already when he fled. What was the reason to chase him? The supervisor made the correct call. The police officer should be charged as an accessory since he bears some of the guilt, no matter what. If he didn't chase the guy, we wouldn't be debating the issue now. Cops do not necessarily exercise good judgement all the time--just like the rest of us.
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