The Chicago Police Department came out with a new policy which bars officers from chasing criminals on foot if they make a break for it, or if the crime is only a minor offense..The policy was announced Tuesday and also encourages cops to "consider alternatives" to pursue someone who "is visibly armed with a firearm," reported the New York Post..With the new rules, officers may chase a suspect if they believe they are committing or about to commit a felony, a Class A misdemeanor, or a serious traffic offense that could injure others..According to the policy, just because someone runs away does not mean the police can chase them..“People may avoid contact with a member for many reasons other than involvement in criminal activity,” the policy states..This policy is expected to go into effect by the end of the summer, after 11,900 police receive the new training..The new policy follows two fatal incidents that started with a foot chase, from which the Chicago PD received a lot of backlash..In March 2021, Chicago cops fatally shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez in separate incidents..Mayor Lori Lightfoot demanded the department create an interim policy after the March 2021 shootings and the county’s top prosecutor harshly criticized police over the Alvarez pursuit..Lightfoot did acknowledge in April 2021 how having officers seek permission from a supervisor before engaging in a foot pursuit was not ideal..“I don’t want people out there who are dangerous to think, ‘Well, if I just run, then I’m safe. I can continue to wreak havoc,'” the mayor said..“We can’t live in that world, either.”.Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said police had been discussing a foot pursuit policy “for several years before those shootings happened.”.Officers are also prohibited from provoking chases, such as by employing a tactic in which they speed in their squad cars toward a group of people, stop suddenly and jump out “with the intention of stopping anyone in the group who flees.”.Other major cities, such as Baltimore, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, have already implemented similar foot pursuit policies .Many Twitter users slammed Democrats for the new policy and expressed concern that it would lead to even higher crime rates in Chicago..“This will embolden criminals & make the city even more dangerous,” tweeted Paul Vallas, former Chicago Public Schools CEO who's running for mayor of Chicago in 2023..“We need MORE proactive policing, not less!”.“If you think crime can’t get any worse in Chicago — just wait," said Sean Wilson on Twitter.."Democrats want to disarm law abiding Americans while ignoring crime and refusing to protect the public.”
