This report presents the results of a one year study on police pursuits in the state of Illinois. The study was conducted from January through December 1991, and included a sample of 51 police agencies from throughout Illinois. Due to the lack of research in this area of law enforcement, and the importance of this deadly force issue, the researchers designed the study to provide a data base helpful to government officials, police administrators, and police personnel. With this information more informed decisions can be made by responsible government officials regarding police pursuit legislation, polices, and procedures. This report is presented in two parts. Part I of the report concentrates on the pursuit issue, legal ramifications, and past research on this important topic. Part II of this report includes the findings of the empirical research conducted as part of this study. The empirical research conducted by the authors differs significantly from previous research efforts. It was designed to collect data on the organizational response to the pursuit issue, and to provide a basic understanding of how officers and administrators operationalize police pursuits in the real world. The reader is encouraged to review Part II for these findings. The executive summary in Part II provides an overview of that element of the study. (A)
Abstract