Lawmaker proposes police pursuit bill

ATLANTA - Georgia State Senator Gail Davenport said something needs to be done to protect innocent people during police pursuits.

“There should be something on the books that curtails police chases when they get out of hand,” said the Democrat from Jonesboro.

She has filed a bill that would outline when and who police should chase.

Davenport said police should only be allowed to chase suspects involved in the most serious crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, or any crime that creates an immediate threat of death or serious injury to someone else. She said, even then, police need to know when a chase becomes a danger to the public.

“If there is a chase, and it starts to endanger the lives of other people, that's when you have to call off the chase,” Davenport said.

The lawmaker said a chase that ended in Southwest Atlanta earlier this year was heartbreaking. Dorothy Smith Wright and her two grandchildren were on their way to church when an SUV hit and killed them. The driver of the SUV was running from the law. Police said the SUV had been stolen.

Davenport said she fully supports police and understands the need to catch suspects, but she doesn't want it to happen at the expense of an innocent life. She said legislation would also keep police safe as well.