Car chase culture

We all know L.A. is the capital of police chases. But an AP examination of such pursuits finds that many law enforcement agencies are questioning whether high-speed chases are worth the risk. And L.A. has actually become a leader in chase restraint:

Los Angeles County was at the center of the debate over police chases. The county now requires that a sheriff's commander — rather than the officers about to start a chase — decide whether it's worth the risk. Taking the decision out of the hands of the officer makes sense, said Dennis Hallion, chairman of the National Troopers Coalition, an organization for state police in 35 states, including Illinois. "Let's face it, when a chase initiates, automatically your adrenaline starts pumping, your heart starts beating faster because you don't know what you have just walked into," he said. Regardless of their department's policy, many police complain about the frustration of letting a suspect speed toward the horizon. "It's a little hard to turn yourself off when you're chasing someone," said Sgt. Brian Moriguchi of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "It's a difficult decision to make."

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