It is understandable that law enforcement would want to aggressively pursue a suspect who is accused of a crime. After all, the best opportunity to get them is often when they are in sight. With that being said, police pursuit—especially high speed chases through busy areas—are extremely dangerous. Tragic crashes can happen and innocent lives may be put at risk. That is why the Atlanta Police Department has adopted a zero-chase policy. Here, our Atlanta car accident lawyers provide a more comprehensive overview of the city’s zero-chase policy for police pursuits.
Police Pursuits Have the Potential to Be Extremely Dangerous
Police pursuits have the potential to be extremely dangerous, posing risks to officers, suspects, and the general public. Indeed, high-speed chases can lead to catastrophic accidents. The inherent unpredictability of these pursuits is a problem. According to a comprehensive study conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle, approximately 700 people were killed nationwide in vehicle-involved police pursuits in 2021 alone. Many thousands more suffered injuries. In some cases, the person hurt/killed was the person being pursued. However, there are also many cases in which police officers and also innocent bystanders have been harmed or killed in police pursuit.
A Police Pursuit Resulted in a Tragic Crash in Atlanta in 2024
How dangerous a police pursuit can be was demonstrated by a terrible, tragic crash that happened in Atlanta in the Spring of 2024. As reported by USA Today, Tamara Taylor, 43-year-old mother of three, was tragically killed in Atlanta during a police pursuit. A man named Ryan Hicks led officers from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) troopers on a high-speed chase after he refused to stop. Sadly, as Mr. Hicks approached the intersection of Campbellton and Barge roads in Southwest Atlanta, he ran a red light and collided with a vehicle being driven by Tamara Taylor. She was killed in the crash. During the fatal pursuit, Hicks reached speeds up to 110 mph. The family of the victim has called for changes in police pursuit policies. They want to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Note: The police pursuit in this case was conducted by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and not the Atlanta Police Department. The GSP does not currently have a zero-chase policy in place. That law enforcement agency pursues suspects when deemed “reasonable.”
Atlanta has Adopted a Zero-Chase Policy for Police Pursuits
As reported by Fox 5 Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Department adopted a zero-chase policy for police pursuits in 2020. At that time, all officers were informed of the change. A zero-chase policy effectively prohibits police officers from engaging in vehicle pursuits under nearly all circumstances. There is a much higher priority on public safety. Immediate apprehension is considered to be less important. Instead, law enforcement agencies operating under this type of policy use alternative methods, such as surveillance, license plate tracking, and arrest warrants, to capture fleeing suspects at a later time.
Atlanta’s zero-chase policy was announced by Erika Shields, the now former chief of police of Atlanta of the Atlanta Police Department. cited the significant risks these chases posed to officers and the public. Chief Shields also noted that the decision to adopt such a policy might be unpopular amongst some and could potentially even lead to increased crime—though many advocates of zero-chase policies contest the second point. However, Chief Shields also emphasized that the priority is to ensure the safety of both officers and innocent people.
Note: While the Atlanta Police Department has a zero-chase policy, many other law enforcement agencies in the region have not adopted similar practices. They pursue in more circumstances.
The Exceptions to Atlanta’s Zero-Chase Policy
An important caveat is that Atlanta’s zero-chase policy for police pursuits is not literal. There are some narrow exceptions to the rule. These exceptions are similar to exceptions made by other law enforcement agencies that have adopted similar policies. Further, in December of 2020, the Atlanta Police Department revised its initial guidance to clarify when its officers can (and should) pursue suspects. Atlanta allows officers to pursue suspects in a chase if:
- They have direct knowledge that a fleeing suspect has committed or attempted to commit a forcible felony, such as murder, vehicular homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, or kidnapping.
The Atlanta Police Department does not allow individual police officers to rely on any exception to the police pursuit policy on their own. Before initiating a pursuit, officers must obtain approval from a supervisor. The supervisor must determine if a pursuit is reasonable given the inherent risk that it poses to public safety.
How Our Atlanta Auto Accident Attorneys Can Help You With a Claim
Atlanta auto accident lawsuits are complicated—especially so if a police pursuit played a role in the crash. It is imperative that injured victims have strong, reliable legal guidance and support through every step of the claims process. At Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our verdicts and settlements tell the story best. We have recovered millions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients. Our firm handles even the most challenging and complex cases, including police pursuit claims. Injured victims have the right to seek compensation for the full extent of their damages, including vehicle repairs, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some cases, a law enforcement agency may even bear some responsibility for a crash. A consultation with our Atlanta car accident attorney is free, confidential, and without obligations
Schedule a Free Case Review With Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
At Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our Atlanta auto accident attorneys are proud to provide solutions-focused advocacy to victims and families. If you or your loved one suffered a serious injury in a crash involving a police pursuit, we are here to help. Give us a call now or contact us online for a free, no obligation case review. From our Atlanta law office, we fight for the rights of injured victims all across the region, including in Cobb County, DeKalb County, and Fulton County.