Council member seeks police pursuit data
Paluka wants facts to assess hot-button issue
City Council Member Renee Paluka-White made it clear at the City Council meeting this week that she supports the Independence Police Department's pursuit policy, but she wants city officials to analyze data to see what, if anything, can be done to improve the policy.
The policy has been a hot-button issue since Oct. 31, when three police pursuits in a span of 10 days left two criminal suspects and 17-year-old Truman High School student Christopher Cooper dead from crashes.
"Our thoughts are with the family of the young man killed," Paluka-White said, "but once I got past that point... it's not the chief's fault, it's not our officers' fault, its not the city manager's fault."
Paluka-White said before the city considers making changes to the policy, they should study police pursuit- related data. She suggested to City Manager Robert Heacock that he compile a list from the last five years of all the police pursuits involving Independence police officers and gauge what happened during those pursuits.
"How many officers were involved, how long did it take, what were the charges?" Paluka-White suggested. "I'm interested in knowing was it a felony, was it a misdemeanor, how many people actually go to jail or how many people were injured? I think that is the place for us to start."
Heacock said he would work with the Police Department to see what kind of information the city could put together to honor White's request.
"The community needs to know the story behind the story," Heacock said, adding media reports don't necessarily reflect the number of pursuits that are called off in Independence. "We trust the judgment of our officers when they use deadly force or when to use less than lethal force. Good judgment is often overlooked."
Heacock said analyzing pursuit data could result in changes or not. He added officials would act swiftly if change is needed.
"I do see the tragedy and the problem involved," Heacock said. "I sympathize with that. But, we need to step back and get the facts. I'm not suggesting everything is what it should be, but if there is a pinpoint sign of a problem, the Chief (Fred Mills) would be the first one to address that and I'd be the second."
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