DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department is rolling out a more aggressive policy when it comes to foot chases. The original guidelines were put in place two years ago after an officer-involved shooting now referred to and the Dixon Circle incident.
Back in 2012, Officer Brian Rowden responded to a kidnapping call. A 31-year-old man ran from the home, and Rowden chased after him.
The suspect and Rowden fought at least twice; the suspect kept running. Rowden lost track of where he was, and lost his backup in the process.
"There was no way we could have helped that officer if he had lost that fight," said Dallas police Chief David Brown.
Rowden shot and killed the suspect. The following year a grand jury cleared him of any charges.
Today, the effects of that shooting still linger.
"We get that we want officers to be safer, but police work is not safe," said Dallas Police Association executive Scott Sayers. "Officers who take this job know they are going to chase people."
Following the Dixon Circle shooting, Dallas police established a foot pursuit policy. It prohibited officers from chasing someone they had already identified. It also made a chase by just one officer against the rules.
The Dallas Police Association has argued for years that the policy change was unrealistic.
"If you have hesitation as to whether or not you are going to chase that person because you're going to get in trouble or for whatever reason, we feel that it limits us." Sayers said.
On Monday, Chief Brown revealed changes to that policy before Dallas City Council's Public Safety Committee, essentially giving officers more leeway.
The revised policy lets an officer pursue a suspect even if he or she is outnumbered.
Previously, officers had to reach a "conclusion" that failing to give chase would cause immediate danger to the public. In the new policy, the word "conclusion" has been changed to "belief."
The Dallas Police Association, however, says the revised guidelines don't go far enough.
"If there is discipline involved in chasing, then it's just going to be easier not to chase," Sayers said.
Brown said his department currently does not keep track of foot pursuits, but said they are working to change that. Their hope is that the addition of body cameras will make it easier to track and determine if the updated chase policy is effective.
