MILWAUKEE, WI – Earlier in January, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) revised their pursuit policy in response to the growing scrutiny towards police pursuits resulting in fatal outcomes for suspects and innocent bystanders. While significant changes in MPD’s pursuit policy are slated to take effect the following month, some critics are still concerned the looming changes don’t go far enough.
MPD’s updated pursuit policy was reportedly debuted during the city’s Fire and Police Commission meeting on January 22nd, with the most notable shift in pursuit policy being that a driver’s speed alone will not be grounds to initiate a pursuit.
Per the updated MPD policy, when considering pursuit of reckless drivers, MPD officers will reportedly have to also consider factors such as whether a driver has caused any collisions or whether their driving has resulted in others on the road having to employ evasive maneuvers. Other typical reckless driving behaviors such as ignoring traffic lights at intersections would also serve as grounds to initiate a pursuit under the updated policy.
In addition to observed driver behaviors, MPD officers will also have to consider aspects such as whether minors are present in the vehicle sought for potential pursuit, as well as whether drone resources or additional units are available to assist. Given the numerous variables at play when engaging or continuing certain pursuits of reckless drivers, officials have clarified that MPD officers will not be disciplined for terminating a pursuit.
MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman noted that the new pursuit policy, which will go into effect on February 6th, is “not an easy path to navigate,” seemingly in reference to the balancing act between maintaining public safety while also holding reckless drivers accountable.
Despite the changes in MPD pursuit policy, some members of the Fire and Police Commission were reportedly concerned that the unveiled updates don’t go far enough to address public safety concerns. The skepticism isn’t without warrant, as 2025 proved to be a record-setting year for MPD regarding police pursuit fatalities, totaling in nine deaths that year with six of the individuals being innocent bystanders.
Commissioner Bree Spencer was among the detractors of the updated pursuit policy, alleging that had this same policy been in effect the year prior it wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the fatal crashes, emphasizing her point with, “Which says to me this is not restrictive enough.” Fellow Commissioner Christopher Snyder concurred with Spencer, saying police pursuits should only occur under “rare circumstances.”
Back in December, the commission hosted Josh Parker from the New York University School of Law's Policing Project, who runs a program reviewing the safety and efficacy of police pursuits. While Parker is adamant that blanket bans on police pursuits is not the way to go, his program stresses that officers and officials need to address “whether a pursuit makes the situation better or worse.”
MPD’s updated pursuit policy was reportedly debuted during the city’s Fire and Police Commission meeting on January 22nd, with the most notable shift in pursuit policy being that a driver’s speed alone will not be grounds to initiate a pursuit.
Per the updated MPD policy, when considering pursuit of reckless drivers, MPD officers will reportedly have to also consider factors such as whether a driver has caused any collisions or whether their driving has resulted in others on the road having to employ evasive maneuvers. Other typical reckless driving behaviors such as ignoring traffic lights at intersections would also serve as grounds to initiate a pursuit under the updated policy.
In addition to observed driver behaviors, MPD officers will also have to consider aspects such as whether minors are present in the vehicle sought for potential pursuit, as well as whether drone resources or additional units are available to assist. Given the numerous variables at play when engaging or continuing certain pursuits of reckless drivers, officials have clarified that MPD officers will not be disciplined for terminating a pursuit.
MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman noted that the new pursuit policy, which will go into effect on February 6th, is “not an easy path to navigate,” seemingly in reference to the balancing act between maintaining public safety while also holding reckless drivers accountable.
Despite the changes in MPD pursuit policy, some members of the Fire and Police Commission were reportedly concerned that the unveiled updates don’t go far enough to address public safety concerns. The skepticism isn’t without warrant, as 2025 proved to be a record-setting year for MPD regarding police pursuit fatalities, totaling in nine deaths that year with six of the individuals being innocent bystanders.
Commissioner Bree Spencer was among the detractors of the updated pursuit policy, alleging that had this same policy been in effect the year prior it wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the fatal crashes, emphasizing her point with, “Which says to me this is not restrictive enough.” Fellow Commissioner Christopher Snyder concurred with Spencer, saying police pursuits should only occur under “rare circumstances.”
Back in December, the commission hosted Josh Parker from the New York University School of Law's Policing Project, who runs a program reviewing the safety and efficacy of police pursuits. While Parker is adamant that blanket bans on police pursuits is not the way to go, his program stresses that officers and officials need to address “whether a pursuit makes the situation better or worse.”
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