Cincinnati police chase policy needs to change, union leader says [Video]

Video above is from previous coverage

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The leader of the union that represents Cincinnati officers is calling for a change to the police department’s chase policy.

It’s become too restrictive, Officer Ken Kober tells FOX19 NOW.

“It’s time to take the cuffs off the cops so they can pursue the bad guys,” he wrote on social media earlier this month.

Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge “is not opposed to revisiting our current vehicle policy, but will always weigh risk versus gain, officer safety and the safety of our communities,” said police spokesman Lt. Jonathan Cunningham.

Several law enforcement agencies have changed their pursuit policies over the years for a variety of reasons:

• Public opinion: The public is often divided on police chases and some question the need for them while others say failing to chase criminals just leads to more crime
• Risk to officers, suspects, bystanders and fatal crashes: Does the danger of the pursuit outweigh the urgency of apprehending a suspect?
• Courts: …