Are Motor Vehicle Pursuits Dangerous?  Motor vehicle pursuits
are certainly dangerous, but what is the alternative?  A study
out of Michigan in 1993 found that 34.5% of pursuits resulted in
separate felony charges; 14.4% resulted in intoxicated driver
charges. Another study of 952 pursuits by the Metro Dade and
Miami Police Departments found 48% of fleeing suspects were
arrested for felonies; that's 314 felons who would have been on
the street had the police not proactively pursued them.  Motor
vehicle pursuits present a unique problem to officers and
supervisors. No officer goes to work hoping to endanger the good
citizens of the community. At the end of the day it is an
officer's job to protect human life. Is driving by a citizen at
90 mph the best way to protect their life ? The simple answer
would be "no." But "danger" is an abstract concept and
subjective term; it can only truly be measured against whatever
the alternative is. Can you imagine a society where the police
could not pursue? Any miscreant, fr