AURORA, CO - Under a revised policy, officers with the Aurora Police Department (APD) are now authorized to pursue drivers suspected of stealing vehicles or driving under the influence, situations that were previously excluded unless other serious felonies were involved.
Aurora officials emphasize that the change in policy was implemented to hold individuals accountable, particularly vehicle thefts and those driving under the influence, according to 9News.
Since the policy change was implemented, Aurora police have engaged in two vehicle pursuits, both ending in a crash. In the first pursuit, officers chased a stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended when the driver crashed. This was the first pursuit of its type since the policy change.
No injuries were reported from the crash that happened on Wednesday, July 16th, 9News reported.
In the second pursuit, police were chasing an individual suspected of driving while under the influence under the updated guidelines of the policy. That pursuit also ended in a crash. Police have since arrested a suspect in the second pursuit, a repeat car thief.
Police arrested her after she crashed a stolen car into a building on East Colfax Avenue. APD said patrol officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen just 20 minutes before. Officers tried to make a traffic stop, police, but the driver fled. The driver crashed through the front window of a building.
Police said they recovered a firearm and narcotics from the vehicle. Police arrested 35-year-old Tracy Colon for reckless driving, third-degree motor vehicle theft, and possession of a controlled substance.
Colon has been arrested in the past for numerous vehicle thefts, trespassing, theft and shoplifting, according to police. Regardless of the crashes, Aurora officials assert that the policy change is accountability-driven and they plan to conduct an ongoing review of outcomes and safety implications.
APD data shows officers were involved in 82 pursuits from March 5th to June 30th; they have made 63 arrests.
Aurora officials emphasize that the change in policy was implemented to hold individuals accountable, particularly vehicle thefts and those driving under the influence, according to 9News.
Since the policy change was implemented, Aurora police have engaged in two vehicle pursuits, both ending in a crash. In the first pursuit, officers chased a stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended when the driver crashed. This was the first pursuit of its type since the policy change.
No injuries were reported from the crash that happened on Wednesday, July 16th, 9News reported.
In the second pursuit, police were chasing an individual suspected of driving while under the influence under the updated guidelines of the policy. That pursuit also ended in a crash. Police have since arrested a suspect in the second pursuit, a repeat car thief.
Police arrested her after she crashed a stolen car into a building on East Colfax Avenue. APD said patrol officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen just 20 minutes before. Officers tried to make a traffic stop, police, but the driver fled. The driver crashed through the front window of a building.
Police said they recovered a firearm and narcotics from the vehicle. Police arrested 35-year-old Tracy Colon for reckless driving, third-degree motor vehicle theft, and possession of a controlled substance.
Colon has been arrested in the past for numerous vehicle thefts, trespassing, theft and shoplifting, according to police. Regardless of the crashes, Aurora officials assert that the policy change is accountability-driven and they plan to conduct an ongoing review of outcomes and safety implications.
APD data shows officers were involved in 82 pursuits from March 5th to June 30th; they have made 63 arrests.
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