INDEPENDENCE, MO - Officers with the Independence Police Department (IPD) have engaged in just four vehicle pursuits since the department temporarily restricted its pursuit policy back in May.
This shift marks a dramatic change for a department long criticized for the number of pursuits its officers engage in, according to the Kansas City Star. On May 20, Interim Police Chief Doug Brinkley issued an executive order barring officers from initiating pursuits solely for minor traffic offenses or city ordinance violations unless something increases the seriousness of the incident.
Supervisors are also required to evaluate those circumstances when a pursuit begins, according to the executive order. IPD conducted 541 pursuits in 2025 and more than 500 in each of the previous several years, according to data Brinkley presented to city council members in March.
The executive order states that the restriction is temporary while the department conducts a broader policy review. The city's next permanent police chief will have an opportunity to determine long-term changes.
"Vehicle pursuits can create significant risks for officers, other drivers and the public, so it is important that we are thoughtful about when those risks are justified,” Brinkley said in a statement. “This executive order provides clearer direction while the department conducts a comprehensive review of its pursuit policy."
Since the executive order was enacted, police data shows that two of those four pursuits involved suspected drunken driving, one involved a disturbance with weapons, and the fourth involved a homicide suspect sought by Kansas City police.
According to Brinkley, the order is intended to limit pursuits stemming only from minor violations while preserving officers' ability to chase drivers when there is a greater threat to public safety.
"Our goal is not to prevent officers from doing their jobs,” Brinkley said. “It is to make sure the decision to pursue appropriately considers the seriousness of the situation and the potential risk to everyone involved." City Manager Troy Anderson said the temporary order allows Independence to reconsider its pursuit practices while searching for its next police chief.
"Public safety requires us to continually evaluate our policies and make sure they reflect the needs of both our community and the officers who serve it,” Anderson said in a statement. “Chief Brinkley’s executive order provides clear direction during that review and helps ensure pursuits are focused on circumstances where the seriousness of the situation justifies the potential risk."
During the March meeting, Brinkley presented data showing Independence officers conducted far more pursuits than neighboring departments, including 541 pursuits in 2025, compared with 137 reported by the Kansas City Police Department.
Brinkley told council members that he had reviewed research examining agencies that adopted more restrictive pursuit policies and said he did not believe limiting chases would necessarily encourage suspects to flee or increase crime.
Brinkley's May order warns that officers who initiate pursuits solely for minor traffic offenses or ordinance violations without qualifying circumstances or supervisory approval could face disciplinary action. The department's permanent pursuit policy remains under review.
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