NBC Bay Area: California legislator proposes bill to make police chases safer

A California legislator proposed a bill that would allow police departments statewide to buy new technology she believes would make police chases less dangerous.

For years, the San Pablo Police Department has been utilizing darts equipped with GPS devices to track down suspects without speeding after them. This is the type of technology Congresswoman Laura Friedman hopes to help other departments obtain.

“The idea is to be able to use technology that’s less likely to result in someone fleeing recklessly at a really high rate of speed,” she said.

Not only darts, but also drones and police bumper systems that can help quickly put the brakes on dangerous high speed chases.

“This would be a bill that would allow for funding to go directly to new technology and emerging technology that helps law-enforcement de-escalate hard chases before they become crashes,” Friedman said.

If passed, the new legislation would allow police departments to use federal policing grant funds for the technology. It’s an idea policing experts say makes a lot of sense.

“I do believe technology is a positive step forward in pursuits. It is truly one of the most dangerous activities that law-enforcement faces in this country,” Michael Leininger said.

Every year, thousands are killed or injured in police chases, many of them innocent bystanders.

While the technology isn’t fool proof, police said they support anything that can help make apprehending criminals safer for everyone.

“I would rather leverage that technology, mitigate that risk to the community at large and our personnel. Why not? Like, it should be about smarter policing,” Burbank Police Chief Rafael Quintero Said.