Oklahoma Highway Patrol Reduce Pursuit Policies by 80%? What’s the Reasons? According to the Tulsa World, the pursuit policy of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was pared down from ten pages to two after 80% of its content was deleted.
Furthermore, the agency has chosen not to discuss the specifics of high-speed pursuits with the public.
Only in cases of extremely serious crime or when the suspect poses an immediate danger to the public can a chase be initiated, according to a recommendation made last year by the United States Department of Justice. The suspect’s criminal acts, not their driving behavior, should inform that.
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The most recent of the seventeen vehicle pursuits conducted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in the six-year period ending in August 2022 resulted in the deaths of twenty-one individuals. All but one of these pursuits were caused by traffic violations or thefts, according to an ongoing investigation by the Tulsa World.
Although the DOJ investigation urged openness about rules and actual pursuits, the newspaper has not heard back from DPS Commissioner Tim Tipton about OHP pursuits.
As a countermeasure, other police departments have implemented and publicly announced stricter pursuit regulations in an effort to reduce potential danger. One example is the Oklahoma City Police Department, which published its complete 451-page operations handbook online and instituted a policy in 2022 mandating the end of pursuits when speeds exceeded the stated limit by more than 15 mph.
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Natalie Clydesdale is a journalist at oklahomansdecide.org, where she covers crucial local and state news with a focus on accuracy and depth. Her extensive experience in investigative reporting ensures readers receive clear and reliable information. Follow her latest updates on Instagram.
