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Orlando, Florida -- 3/19/05 -- PursuitWatch

On March 1, 2004 the Orlando Police Department adopted what PursuitWatch believes is the most restrictive pursuit policy in the United States. This followed the adoption of a similarly restrictive policy by the Orange County Sheriff's Office in the fall of 2003 and preceded adoption of the Orlando model by the remaining 8 agencies in Orange County. All of this attracted extensive coverage in the local media. 

In the 12 months since the policy was adopted OPD has made 40,460 traffic stops. OPD has reported that they had 11 pursuits (0.027%) and 107 suspects (0.27%) who refused to stop. OPD also reported that in 2003 they had 20,291 reported felonies and in 2004 there were 20,065 (-1.1%) reported felonies. In the same period the population of Orlando increased an estimated 3%.

The past year's experience has served to silence critics across the United States who predicted widespread defiance of OPD officers attempting traffic stops as well as attendant increases in crime rates. 

These results are especially relevant in light of the national attention generated by the introduction of Kristie's Law in California by State Senator Sam Aanestad. Kristie's Law is an attempt to set reasonable minimum standards for pursuit policy, practice and accountability in California. 

The California Law Enforcement establishments opposition to the bill is largely based on contentions that there will be large increases in the number of suspects who flee and that crime rates will increase significantly. These conclusions are soundly refuted by the results experienced in Orlando.

Source: PursuitWatch