Jim Phillips is the webmaster for www.pursuitwatch.org . I met Jim while conducting research for my web site. His site came up during a search engine check and the first thing I saw was a banner that read "Mindless police pursuit and the unacceptable cost." I had been there before. I had been on numerous anti-police sites which contributed everything from poverty to racism on solely the police. As I usually do, I looked around the site. What I found surprised me. The mission of the web site mirrored the mission of mine. Mr. Phillips wanted more police driver training, a national reporting standard, stricter penalties for suspects, and an adequate pursuit policy for departments. Although our mission was similar, our sites were up for two very different reasons. You see, Jim had a 20 year old daughter by the name of Sarah. She was killed December 13, 2001. The result of a police pursuit.
Jim has taken this tragedy and turned it into a mission to help communities and police departments. He has faced criticism from police officers and others. It is not easy to enter the police profession as a citizen and ask questions. It definitely is not easy to request changes. If Mr. Phillips and I sat down and spoke about police pursuits, would we agree on everything? Probably not, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Different opinions and backgrounds can lead to a progressive outcome. If we all had the courage that Jim is showing, then so many issues would be solved instead of argued. Jim Phillips is standing up for what he believes in. Jim is trying to do what is right. His courage should be a model for every driving instructor to follow. Even if you are just an officer, you can be a part in making a difference. If you are an instructor, the difference starts with you. Jim is just a citizen placed in the middle of a tragedy. He didn't ask to be the moderator of Pursuit Watch. As a police officer, you did ask to do the job. Below is a recent editorial written by Jim Phillips. Thank you Jim for giving me permission to print it and for everything you do.
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Tragedy in Fresno-3 die in pursuit Flags are lowered to half mast in California-On May 29, 2003, Fresno County Sheriff's investigator Joshua Lancaster pulled away from a stop sign into the path of a pursuit being conducted by Sanger, California police, with the assistance of a CHP helicopter unit. Though it is hardly mentioned, dead also is 17 year-old Lorena Rodriguez and her unborn child, a passenger in the fleeing car that impacted Lancaster's unmarked vehicle at 90 miles per hour. Just another pursuit tragedy, to be dismissed, and swept under the carpet, by a solemn faced police spokesmen with the phrase "A tragic loss of life-if only the suspects had stopped when ordered..."- I think not, this one is different-one of the innocent victims was a police officer, from a different agency, totally unaware of what was going on. Those of us who have lost innocent family members to police pursuits can understand the horrible pain of Joshua Lancaster's wife and family, as well as the Rodriguez family, and they are in our prayers. It is evident that many members of the law enforcement community have taken this death on a family level, and they are asking questions in a effort to change things so that this tragic event could not happen again. By all accounts Joshua Lancaster was a fine young man, a vital part of his family and community, but these events did not make Joshua Lancaster a hero. Joshua Lancaster was a regular "Joe" at the tragic end of a string of senseless events. His death was unnecessary and easily prevented. We could only wish that the vigor with which the policy and procedure concerning police pursuit is being examined by the departments involved in this case was the same for a "civilian" death. It is trite to say "If the suspect would have stopped Joshua Lancaster would be alive today." In this case law enforcement professionals around the county are also asking: "Why wasn't the Fresno Sheriff warned of the pursuit when it entered their jurisdiction?" "Why was the long, 90 mph pursuit continued when a CHP helicopter was overhead?' "Was the life of Joshua Lancaster worth a stolen car?" "What could have Sanger, CHP and Fresno done different to prevent these deaths." The real tragedy of this case is that it took the death of Joshua Lancaster to get police officers to ask the questions that many of us have asked, and continue to ask. Questions that go largely unanswered or are met with hostility by much of the law enforcement community. Rest in peace Joshua Clyde Lancaster, our prayers are with you and your family.
James Phillips 6/7/03 |
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Links: Fresno sheriff's deputy killed in accident Mercury News 5/29/03 Fleeing car kills Fresno County detective Fresno Bee 5/30/2003 Search for answers KFSN 5/30/03 Woman Believes Lack Of Communication Contributed To Son's Death KERO 5/30/03 Zapata accused in 3 deaths Fresno Bee 5/31/03 Officer killed in police chase laid to rest Mercury News 6/4/03 Deaths put focus on police radios Fresno Bee 6/7/03 |