Police Dash Camera Video Released

The video from an August high speed chase in Charlottesville is out. What's in the video is raising questions about whether the police officer acted correctly.

[wondering]

“The elevation of alluding as a law enforcement issue and type of criminal behavior that has the attention of judges in a way that it hasn't historically.”

What?

[Bob]

I support the choice he made and stand behind the officer 100percent.

[Townie]

How is it that everytime a criminal does something to put people in danger we always question the police? Am I just weird or are we missing something here?

[a serious UVA fan]

Townie wrote:

How is it that everytime a criminal does something to put people in danger we always question the police? Am I just weird or are we missing something here?

No, you're not weird. It's nice to see somebody support the police once in a while. Somehow, someway, we've got to get criminals off our streets and behind bars.

[Bob]

The officer was very calm and under control during the situation. ECC did a great job also getting other officers started his way and they too stayed calm. Great job CPD!

[Concerned]

Townie wrote:

How is it that everytime a criminal does something to put people in danger we always question the police? Am I just weird or are we missing something here?

You think the police shouldn't be under scrutiny? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Rugby Road often has students crossing it even in the small hours of the morning. Did the officer correctly assess the risks of the pursuit?

Why was the officer traveling at 11 over the limit before he saw the other vehicle? That's a four point offense for ordinary motorists.

Was he already responding to an emergency, and if so why were his lights not activated?

Why did the officer reach a speed of over 50mph in a residential area before activating his lights and sirens to warn other vehicles or pedestrians?

At 80mph a car's stopping distance is around 400 feet. Could the officer have stopped the car had there been an obstruction on the road?

[Einstein]

Sounds like Chief Longo decided that the officer acted appropriately. Good enough for me. So what "questions" are being raised, NBC29? Why are you trying to make our officers look bad?

[thinking free]

Einstein wrote:

Sounds like Chief Longo decided that the officer acted appropriately. Good enough for me. So what "questions" are being raised, NBC29? Why are you trying to make our officers look bad?

Don't gotta try and make them look bad, they do that all by them selves.

[only the truth]

Concerned wrote:

<quoted text>
You think the police shouldn't be under scrutiny? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Rugby Road often has students crossing it even in the small hours of the morning. Did the officer correctly assess the risks of the pursuit?
Why was the officer traveling at 11 over the limit before he saw the other vehicle? That's a four point offense for ordinary motorists.
Was he already responding to an emergency, and if so why were his lights not activated?
Why did the officer reach a speed of over 50mph in a residential area before activating his lights and sirens to warn other vehicles or pedestrians?
At 80mph a car's stopping distance is around 400 feet. Could the officer have stopped the car had there been an obstruction on the road?

You know what, the police seem to be damned if they do or damned if they don't. I am glad the officer took pursuit of this guy and had the guy done the right thing the officer would not had to have a chase. Why blame the very people that are there to help us?
Concerned, you should be concerned about criminals, not the police!

[wahoo2010]

wondering wrote:

“The elevation of alluding as a law enforcement issue and type of criminal behavior that has the attention of judges in a way that it hasn't historically.”
What?

HAHAAHAAA I thought the same thing!! I had to re-read it several times and no, it never made sense - I just gave up haha.

And yeah, the officer definitely did the right thing. How often does this type of thing go down in Cville? Not often; the officer no doubt wondered what on Earth this guy was up to. And intuition tells anyone with a lick of sense it was nothing good. Good job, Cville police!

[Bob]

You seem to have alot to say about the police. BUT....what about the actions that started the pursuit. I dont think the officer said,"Hmmmm I think want to get into a pursuit tonight." as he came on to his shift. I like knowing that cops are out at 3am looking for people up to no good. You can Monday morning quarterback all you want but for real, what would you have done? Oh, wait, you were sleeping at home. You should not judge people, and in reading your comments there was nothing said about the kid that started the pursuit.

[Townie]

Concerned wrote:

<quoted text>
You think the police shouldn't be under scrutiny? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Rugby Road often has students crossing it even in the small hours of the morning. Did the officer correctly assess the risks of the pursuit?
Why was the officer traveling at 11 over the limit before he saw the other vehicle? That's a four point offense for ordinary motorists.
Was he already responding to an emergency, and if so why were his lights not activated?
Why did the officer reach a speed of over 50mph in a residential area before activating his lights and sirens to warn other vehicles or pedestrians?
At 80mph a car's stopping distance is around 400 feet. Could the officer have stopped the car had there been an obstruction on the road?

I'm not saying this wasn't a dangerous event. Hell, driving at those speeds is always dangerous in the City of Charlottesville. However, considering the circumstances here, I would much rather have a police officer trained to drive vehicles at great speeds than a 17 year old kid that just happened to steal a car.
What is the alternative, have the police not interfere with lawlessness? My point is not to argue about cops "speeding" during normal duty, that seems so trivial. I am simply commenting on the pursuit that is apparently making big headlines according to NBC29.
If the cops don't chase people who flee, the only people held accountable for their actions are honest people who would rather take a ticket than risk the lives of those in the community by driving like an idiot and forcing the police to follow suit.

Great Job Officer! I for one support you decision (at least in this case, lol).

[most of you are idiots]

looks ok to me. What else was he supposed to do? just watch him drive away and not even make an attempt? then what? The offender will just learn that all he has to do is run. Pursuits are frowned upon in this area because people are scared. Look at how they do it out west. Rush hour on a California highway and they are chasing for a traffic violation then PITing or ramming the offender. Local government around here needs to grow a set and let the police do what they need to do stop crime. Look at VSP's pursuit policy or policy over in the valley. They can still do what needs to be done and you don't ever hear about their stuff. This area has become anti-police in the past few years.

[Mind speak]

There needs to be much more public scrutiny of these types of high speed pursuits through residential areas.
Putting lives at greater risk in an attempt to catch a person suspected of committing a misdemeanor crime is insane.
Is it worth possibly causing the death of any innocent man, women, or a child in an attempt to catch a speeder? Should the contempt of cop displayed by the person fleeing be allowed to carry the penalty of injury or death for an innocent bystander? I think not........

[Bob]

Mind speak,
Try reading a little more into the story. It says that the kid broke into a house with people in it, Stole the keys then took the car. What if this had been your house and your car???? So if your read a little a little I am sure we can find a felony somewhere.

[most of you are idiots]

I know, lets just do away with the police. It's seems like everytime there is a story about the police on here the comments are filled with statements about how wrong they are, how unsafe they are, how they can speed and I get a ticket...and on and on and on. Maybe comlete lawlessness is the answer.

[K A W P]

No need for that,that cop could have got someone KILLED.

[C-Ville Patriot]

Concerned wrote:

<quoted text>
You think the police shouldn't be under scrutiny? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Rugby Road often has students crossing it even in the small hours of the morning. Did the officer correctly assess the risks of the pursuit?
Why was the officer traveling at 11 over the limit before he saw the other vehicle? That's a four point offense for ordinary motorists.
Was he already responding to an emergency, and if so why were his lights not activated?
Why did the officer reach a speed of over 50mph in a residential area before activating his lights and sirens to warn other vehicles or pedestrians?
At 80mph a car's stopping distance is around 400 feet. Could the officer have stopped the car had there been an obstruction on the road?

You sicken me. I am tired of this up is down wrong is right bad is good country we live in today. Lawyers, liberal judges and sympathetic juries and dumb a.. criminals are all to blame for this non sense. Why don't you try living in Cuba, China or any of the Middle East countries for awhile and then maybe you can comment with some experience as the professionlism of our police.

Great job to the officer. At no time did you place anyone in any danger. Thank God this was on video for all the conspiracy nuts to view.

[think about it]

I can understand everyones cocerns, but I have never seen ANY discontent when fire or rescue go down the street above the speed limits and have those ear piercing sirens blaring for every call.Oh,and they don't provide to the media dash cameras. It's always easy to judge someone after the event. Also, every time we see an accident on the roadway, it was caused by SOMEONE doing something wrong.If the police are not allowed to pusue, then any criminal would know to either run or drive away. Think about it.

[C-Ville Patriot]

K A W P wrote:

No need for that,that cop could have got someone KILLED.

I know what your blog name represents. You are a sad excuse of a human. But I'm sure you would be the first to complain if someone logged on as K A B P.