Hmm I have mixed feelings about this. Police pursuits should only be initiated when there is justifiable reason to, read: immediate and non trivial danger to the general public resulting from the suspect escaping.
However, police officers have the choice to end the pursuit at any time, as this officer did. Now, the question is simply the one that the court decided: Did the initiation of the police pursuit lead to the accident/injuries that occurred? 20/30 seconds isn't enough time to properly cool, especially when the police have been chasing you and you have no idea if they still are.
The general rule of thumb with police is, if it's not an immediate serious threat, let them go. Get a liscence plate, even perhaps call in arial support (helicopters), if available.
The fact is that police accountability is becoming a huge issue.
Quote:
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The chase began on April 14, 2000, when Sgt. Preston Sears saw Barnes skid into an intersection on a red light, back up and then drive through the intersection on a green light.
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Ridiculous... no police officer should initiate a high speed pursuit under those circumstances. Obviously I don't have all the facts, but from that it sounds like a completely unjustifiable police pursuit. The police department deserves the wrath of the public and judicial system for putting the public at risk for such trivial circumstances.