Comments on: Escambia Sheriff’s Office Changes Pursuit Policy

By: Dennis HE Wiggins

Dennis HE Wiggins — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:55:20 +0000

Re: Lawman

First, I never said I agree with the SCOTUS. I just wrote what they said.

Secondly, I will call 911 post haste . . . AFTER I protect my family. Yes, I believe in, and exercise daily, my 2d Amendment RIGHT. I am thankful Florida has the Castle Doctrine AND the Stand Your Ground Law! NO ONE should have to retreat when (s)he has a legal right to be where (s)he is. Molon labe!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:08:56 +0000

Get rid of the ambulance chasing lawyers. The county is afraid of a law suit !! So now the deputy can not pursue a suspect, what happens when that suspect kills some innocent person in the county. The county gets sued anyway…………The bosses in the county need to grow a pair and let these guys do their job!!

By: Kid Joe

Kid Joe — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:50:48 +0000

Here is the policy so there is no confusion to what is says:

“PROCEDURE CHANGE:
GO 525 Emergency Response and Pursuit regarding pursuits is amended as follows:

I am concerned with the supervision now being exercised over high-speed, inherently dangerous pursuits of criminal suspects. Authorization of such a pursuit always places innocent lives in danger. Placing innocent, uninvolved Escambia County citizens at risk of death is unacceptable unless there is a solid articulable justification of a public safety need that is so urgent and immediate that it justifies risking innocent lives, not to mention to lives of the suspect(s) and our personnel.

Authorization of any high-speed pursuit is to be limited to extreme circumstances
precisely because it is an authorization to use deadly force in circumstances where innocent lives are placed at risk. Such authorization must be limited to matters so serious and exigent that the need to immediately capture or kill the suspect would warrant an authorization to use of a firearm against a suspect located in a crowd of innocent bystanders. Such a high level of officer force should never be authorized based upon sketchy or incomplete facts; to the contrary, the supervisor must have evidence sufficient to make the supervisor reasonably certain that a crime involving great bodily harm has been committed or commission of such a crime is imminent AND that the suspect is the person who committed the crime. The supervisor must also be reasonably certain that the public safety need to immediately capture or kill the suspect is so grave that the supervisor is willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent civilians, deputies, and the suspect. If there is any doubt whether the circumstances and evidence make the supervisor reasonably certain of the propriety of the pursuit, the pursuit must not be authorized and any ongoing pursuit must be cancelled.

Supervisors WILL NOT authorize the initiation or continuation of a pursuit un less they are reasonably certain that they can justify the use of deadly force in a circumstance that also endangers innocent lives.

Deputies WILL NOT pursue unless authorized by a supervisor, and are authorized to terminate any pursuit if the deputy cannot justify the use of deadly force in a circumstance that endangers innocent lives.

This order supersedes the current pursuit policy and will remain in effect until
rescinded . I do not anticipate rescinding this order until we complete a review of our pursuit policy and until I am satisfied that all supervisors are adequately trained on the revised ECSO pursuit policy. In addition to publication by email to all sworn officers, this Emergency Interim General Order will be placed in Power DMS and must be reviewed and signed by all sworn law enforcement officers. Supervisors or deputies who violate this Emergency Interim General Order are subject to discipline, up to and including termination from employment.”

By: thesheriffwasneveracop

thesheriffwasneveracop — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:44:31 +0000

What do you expect from the top cop in Escambia County. Morgan has never been behind the wheel of a patrol car. During the pursuit that changed the policy ECSO deputies had information that the suspect was armed with an AK-47. I’m glad they chased; they could of stopped a future mass murder in one of our schools. Its ridiculous that a Deputy on the north end of the county can not chase a violent dangerous criminal at 3:00 a.m. Once again it is us on the north end of the county that suffer.

By: David

David — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:05:54 +0000

What the heck? We need Joe Arpaio to come teach Morgan a few things!

Law Enforcement standing down and backing down to crime?

I never thought Id see this day, especially here in Pensacola. Wow.

It truely is over now citizens. What a crock!

What happened to the USA? Shame on our federal government, shame on political correctness, shame on liability.

Shame on collectivism and shame on any American who thinks this is okay. You are weak!

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:03:50 +0000

In other words…………We innocent citizens are not going to be allowed (what?) to protect our lives, our families lives, or our property because POTUS thinks we don’t need guns……….. and then when we do call for assistance from LEO, they won’t be able to chase you the criminal, so don’t worry Mr. criminal you can rob us, run, and hide. Won’t nothing happen to you!! We want to take care of our career criminals. We don’t want you to be in a chain gang, and we want you very comfortable if you should happen to go to prison. You the criminal, have it much better than us the law abiding tax paying citizen.

By: Biscuit

Biscuit — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:11:35 +0000

From the Whitehouse, down to the outhouse, it’s as messed up as a chickensoup sandwich. The dirtbags has got to be dealt with now! Not next week! Train the LEO to be more safe, but let them pursue!

By: Mike O.

Mike O. — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:28:42 +0000

And lets remember that first reports were of this guy being armed with an AK47 and a handgun. It’s not like the chase started because he threw trash out his window. Everyone wants to cry about the “what if’s or what could have’s”. At least this guys was caught and no major injuries or death occurred. I am all for what ever it takes and at all costs. It has been my experience that people don’t seem to care about lights and sirens and never move out of the way, even if it is ambulances and firetrucks. If you don’t move, well, you have what’s coming to you. That’s my opinion on the matter. This whole country has gone way too soft if you ask me.

By: Mike O.

Mike O. — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:24:34 +0000

Looks like a life of crime isn’t going to be so bad, especially if all one has to do is jump in a car a and flee. Seems like a safe bet to me. No choppers and no chasing. Ahh, the life of crime gets sweeter every day here in Escambia County. Thanks, Sheriff Morgan, for being so stupid. We feel safer already with your awesome ideas! You might as well just have all your deputies just start writing parking tickets instead of being out on patrol.

Thank goodness for concealed carry permits.

By: Lawman

Lawman — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:10:09 +0000

Ref: wiggins comment.
It take lawyers and judges years to come up with case law. We are talking about reality now. If a person breaks into your house and take your family hostage who are you going to call? Probably 911 to get law enforcement to protect and get your family safely out. Make sure you give the perpetrator a copy of your case law and hope that he or she will understand and turn around or maybe apologize for doing it to you. People you need to understand that law enforcement officers don’t look forward to chasing anyone. There are dangers to everyone involved including the officers. The criminals set the tone for this. Law enforcement has to react. With these policies in place I just pray that your family is not a victim of a horrible crime. If the LEO don’t witness it you will just get a incident report. Good luck citizens.