Mayor Outlaws Chasing Suspects

[VamPyroX]

Mayor defends chase decision
Peake forbids police from running after fleeing suspect

By Chris Cato
News Channel 7

The mayor of one Upstate city is defending her decision to tell officers not to chase on foot suspects who run from them.

In a memo dated Sept. 2, Wellford Mayor Sallie Peake wrote: "As of this date, there are to be no more foot chases when a suspect runs. I do not want anyone chasing after any suspects whatsoever."

Reached at City Hall on Friday, Peake said Wellford officers were getting injured too frequently while chasing suspects on foot, costing the taxpayers money in worker's compensation claims. She also said officers are not supposed to chase suspects in vehicles either.

"I said what I meant, and I meant what I said," Peake said. "…And I will not change for you or no one else."

When asked several follow-up questions, Peake repeated numerous times, "may God bless you."

Wellford Police Chief Chris Guy said he has told his officers to abide by the order until he can sit down with Peake and discuss the issue.

"This came about because an officer twisted his ankle while chasing a suspect a couple of weeks ago," Guy said. The chief said officers could always sign out a warrant on a person they saw commit a crime and catch them later.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright called the memo "strange."

"If a bank robber or a drunk driver or a shoplifter or somebody with a warrant runs on foot, it's our obligation to do what we can do to bring them to justice," Wright said.

The sheriff said the memo might actually be illegal because it directly conflicts with a police officer's constitutional oath to uphold the law, and he said while it could help protect officers from injury, it might also put residents at risk.

"If you've got somebody that's running from the police, who's to say they won't break into your home to get away from law enforcement?" Wright said.

He said he is going to ask State Law Enforcement Division whether the memo is legal. In the meantime, he said he will add patrols to the Wellford area in case officers need help catching suspects who run.

Mayor defends chase decision | GoUpstate.com | Spartanburg Herald-Journal | Spartanburg SC

She later revoked her decision... (read next post)

 

[VamPyroX]

Wellford mayor Sallie Peake revokes no-chase call

COLUMBIA — The mayor of a small South Carolina town says she's allowing her police officers to run after suspects again.

Wellford Mayor Sallie Peake on Thursday told WSPA-TV she's revoking her Sept. 2 prohibition.

She said a conversation with Spartanburg County prosecutor Trey Gowdy prompted the reversal, even though she still doesn't want foot chases.

Gowdy sent a letter Wednesday to state Attorney General Henry McMaster, asking whether the policy violates officers' duties to uphold the law. He says he feared the policy would hamstring officers and embolden criminals.

Earlier this week, Peake said she ordered the ban after a city officer was injured chasing a "guy who had a piece of crack on him." She said a drug possession charge was not worth the increased insurance costs.

Wellford mayor Sallie Peake revokes no-chase call | GoUpstate.com | Spartanburg Herald-Journal | Spartanburg SC

 

[Steel X]

Im glad she changed her decision...that would be EXTREMELY stupid not to run after suspects whether they are innocent or not...they MUST cooperate with the police thou otherwise they don't, obviously they are hiding something.

Police MUST chase after the suspect if something is wrong so...otherwise if not, the suspect may commit another crime and that its too late to stop the suspect then.

I wonder where her brains went after she made that decision to stop cops from chasing suspects. :roll: