Data obtained by 25 Investigates shows Massachusetts State Troopers participated in 1,120 vehicle pursuits since 2018.
Investigative reporter Ted Daniel pored over the data, which was obtained as part of a public records request, and found 48 of those didn’t follow the agency’s own pursuit policy.
According to the information provided by Massachusetts State Police (MSP), between January and October of this year, troopers logged a total of 164 police pursuits. Five of those, said the agency, did not fully comply with MSP policy.
That policy states that “necessity of the apprehension” must outweigh the “risk created by the pursuit.” Chases are supposed to be called off if the suspect is not wanted for a serious crime and enters crowded neighborhoods or roadways.
In 2020, the data shows, there were 411 MSP-involved pursuits statewide. Per the agency, 16 of those did not follow proper pursuit policy.
A request for pursuit data was submitted in October as part of 25 Investigates’ research into a story about a trooper who struck and critically injured a Fitchburg nurse last year as he was heading to join a chase.
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