February 4, 2006:  Goodbye Jim

I met Jim Phillips in 2003.  We had both just started a website dealing with police pursuits.  Although we started the sites for vastly different reasons and sometimes we disagreed, we quickly became friends.  In fact, Jim became friends with many law enforcement officers.  That is no easy feat.  The police profession is known for not letting outsiders get close.  It was a testament to Jim's love and personality that he achieved this.  Jim Phillips has made the lives of officers and citizens safer through his dogmatic approach to pursuit safety.  His impact in the field of law enforcement will be seen for years to come. 

Jim suddenly died on Friday, February 3, 2006.  We will miss him greatly and I am proud to call him my friend.  On March 31, 2004, I wrote about Jim on this website, www.policedriving.com. That editorial is below.

Captain Travis Yates - Tulsa Police Department

March 31, 2004

The Jim Phillips Story:  I met Jim Phillips a year ago while conducting research on this site.  I ran across his website, Pursuit Watch.  After doing a Google search I saw an ad that said "Hot Pursuit and how it can go horribly wrong."  I'm thinking what is this junk.  Another cop hater, just what I need.  Fortunately for me, I looked at the site and stumbled on a number of goals that Jim had.  Strangely enough they looked much like mine:  Mandatory training, strict laws for eluding suspects, adequate policies, etc.  I sent Jim an e-mail telling him of our similar goals and how his site turned out to be nothing like I originally imagined.  Since that late night and numerous e-mails later, I consider Jim Phillips my friend.  My friend does not have a law enforcement background.  He did not ask to be an advocate for safer pursuits. Police Pursuits were the farthest thing from his mind.  On December 13, 2001, Jim's daughter Sarah died from the result of a Police Pursuit.  Sarah had done nothing wrong.  Her death was another reminder to Law Enforcement of how "Hot Pursuits can go horribly wrong."  It's something that officers do not want to think about.  To an officer close to something like this, it is a nightmare.  To a parent, it is devastating beyond anything I could ever imagine. 
You see, my friend Jim was forced to know how pursuits can go "horribly wrong."  How are you as  a law enforcement officer going to think about a pursuit before it happens?  Will you know how it could go wrong?  Will you know when to pursue or when to stop?  Will you know how to control your emotions?  I ask you to think about these issues.  It is our job to do so; It is our obligation to the public.  After all, Jim Phillips didn't ask to be an advocate for safer pursuits.  We as officers did and must remain vigilant to ensure that no one else has to endure the pain that my friend does.
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