LANSING, Mich – The Michigan State Police announced what they say is a proactive move aimed at mitigating risks associated with police pursuits, Colonel James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP), has unveiled a revamped pursuit policy aligning with best practices. The primary objective is to safeguard the lives of both innocent bystanders and law enforcement personnel.
Effective immediately, MSP enforcement members will only initiate pursuits if there is credible evidence indicating that the driver or occupants of the targeted vehicle have committed a life-threatening or violent felony.
Colonel Grady emphasized the perilous nature of high-speed pursuits, acknowledging them as one of the most hazardous scenarios officers encounter. He stressed the critical need to evaluate the severity of the underlying offense against the potential dangers posed by a pursuit. Protecting lives, including those of bystanders, officers, and suspects, remains the top priority, prompting the revision of the pursuit policy.
Statistics from MSP indicate that in 2022, members engaged in 235 pursuits, a figure which saw a marginal increase to 236 pursuits the following year. As of the current year, there have been 33 pursuits involving MSP personnel.
Nationally, data from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that crashes occur in approximately 30 percent of vehicle pursuits, with injuries or fatalities arising in 5 to 17 percent of cases.
The updated policy by MSP is in accordance with recommendations outlined in the 2023 report by the Police Executive Research Forum titled “Vehicular Pursuits: A Guide for Law Enforcement Executives on Managing the Associated Risks.”
For transparency and accessibility, the revised policy, along with other non-confidential departmental Official Orders, can be accessed online through MSP’s Transparency and Accountability webpage at www.mi.gov/MSPtransparency.
