ABINGTON, Mass. — After an Abington police pursuit that turned deadly Wednesday morning, security and legal experts are weighing in on if the chase by authorities was warranted.
Boston 25 Friday obtained Abington Police’s 18-page vehicle pursuit policy that outlines when officers should and shouldn’t pursue a suspect on the road with excessive force. It also outlines how officers should communicate with their supervisors and fellow officers if they are in a high-speed pursuit.
Emotions are high in Abington after the 17-year old driver who was pursued by police was killed Wednesday morning after colliding with a tree off Washington Street.
Four other teens inside the car at the time were seriously injured. A second victim passed away on Friday evening.
Security expert Todd McGhee has been closely following the tragic incident.
“It’s important to take a 10,000-foot step back in order to assess,” McGhee said.
Abington police say they tried to stop a red SUV Wednesday morning that was reported stolen in Brockton just hours before. They claim the driver took off when they tried to pull the car over.
Moments later, after a high-speed pursuit, the car with five teens inside collided with a tree.
McGhee added, “Oftentimes, law enforcement has no idea the age of the operator. Secondly, they don’t know if that stolen vehicle is part of another crime.”
In Abington police’s vehicle pursuit policy, it claims officers are only allowed to use excessive speed when a vehicle poses a threat, an occupant poses a threat, or a driver is wanted for felonious acts.
It also claims officers must be in constant contact with supervisors and assisting officers during the chase.
Boston 25 legal analyst Peter Elikann said the department policy is meant to safeguard officers, or hold them accountable.
“High-speed chases under modern policing are very frowned upon, with exceptions,” he said. “If that officer’s been trained about high speed chases and has read the protocols, and then somehow violated it, the officer can then not say, ‘Gee, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to do this.’”
The policy also claims officers shouldn’t pursue a misdemeanor. Units are also required to assess factors like location of the pursuit, traffic, and pedestrians when making a split-second decision.
Police say Wednesday morning’s pursuing officer has been administrative leave pending an investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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