Post by KC on Nov 23, 2006 21:15:10 GMT -5
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -- A police officer may face disciplinary action for leading a car chase that sent five police cruisers through neighborhoods at midday.
Officer Penny Witherbee violated the police department's policy on vehicle use.
"She was not in compliance," Police Chief John Martin said Monday. Management will decide what action to take, he said.
Witherbee started the chase around 3 p.m. on Oct. 31 when she spotted a driver who was known to have a suspended license. The driver sped away when she tried to pull him over near Fairview Street.
Witherbee chased the vehicle at high rates of speed, witnesses said. Four cruisers were called to assist. But when other officers learned the driver's identity, the pursuit was called off.
Witherbee received minor injuries after she hit a telephone poll while trying to get ahead of the driver during the chase.
Frank Chalue, of Springfield, Mass., was arrested nearly a week later and charged with attempting to elude police, driving with a suspended license, grossly negligent operation and resisting arrest.
According to the police department's policy, the decision to chase a vehicle is "based on the pursuing officer's conclusion that the immediate danger to the officer and the public created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to public should the subject remain at large."
Chalue had violated conditions of a drunken driving charge.
The policy also requires that no more than two police vehicles be used in a pursuit "unless supervisory discretion requires."
www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/11/21/police_officer_to_be_cited_for_car_chase/
Officer Penny Witherbee violated the police department's policy on vehicle use.
"She was not in compliance," Police Chief John Martin said Monday. Management will decide what action to take, he said.
Witherbee started the chase around 3 p.m. on Oct. 31 when she spotted a driver who was known to have a suspended license. The driver sped away when she tried to pull him over near Fairview Street.
Witherbee chased the vehicle at high rates of speed, witnesses said. Four cruisers were called to assist. But when other officers learned the driver's identity, the pursuit was called off.
Witherbee received minor injuries after she hit a telephone poll while trying to get ahead of the driver during the chase.
Frank Chalue, of Springfield, Mass., was arrested nearly a week later and charged with attempting to elude police, driving with a suspended license, grossly negligent operation and resisting arrest.
According to the police department's policy, the decision to chase a vehicle is "based on the pursuing officer's conclusion that the immediate danger to the officer and the public created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to public should the subject remain at large."
Chalue had violated conditions of a drunken driving charge.
The policy also requires that no more than two police vehicles be used in a pursuit "unless supervisory discretion requires."
www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/11/21/police_officer_to_be_cited_for_car_chase/