Advocacy group wants tougher consequences for fleeing drivers after another innocent person killed in crash

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The issue of police pursuits is a nuanced one that comes down to risk: What's the risk to the community of pursuing a suspect vs the risk of letting a potentially dangerous person go?

A 28-year-old man was killed Tuesday night, July 29, when a driver fleeing police slammed into his car on Brady Street. 

We spoke with a leader of an advocacy group who said the burden to not endanger others is on the offender, not police.

Jeanne Lupo is the president of a group called "Enough is Enough, A Legacy for Erin." She said, "People need to learn to stop when the police are pursuing them."

The group was formed after 32-year-old Erin Mogensen and her unborn baby were killed in 2023 when a convicted felon fleeing police slammed into her car.

The group focuses on the court system, concerned judges are too lenient on offenders. "Courts are not taking seriously the potential of what can happen when someone flees," Lupo told us.

MPD policy authorizes a pursuit if the officer "has a reasonable belief that the suspect, if allowed to flee, would present a danger to human life or cause serious injury."

The policy says when considering a pursuit, officers should think about road conditions, population density, and vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Lupo says traffic calming measures don't mean much to people intent on breaking the law.

And while dangerous people need to be stopped, she says the legal consequences are not deterrent enough. She says the reasoning can be, "'If I get caught, I have the inconvenience of some court, and I'll probably get some probation. So, I may as well try to get away.'"

Lupo's organization studied similar cases and say many offenders rack up multiple reckless driving charges while waiting for one case to go through.

She argues the risk they'll hurt or kill another person is higher since they're not in custody. "The police need to stop that person from injuring another person."

The deadly crash on Brady comes two weeks after 55-year-old Lorenzo Martin, an innocent bystander at a bus shelter, was hit and killed by a fleeing car near Sherman and Fond du Lac. The 35-year-old driver was arrested.

The chain reactions can devastate families and last a lifetime, as Erin Mogensen's family and friends know. Lupo said, "Her family is doing ok. Her husband is still trying to get a handle on life."

In the meantime, Lupo's group is trying to get policymakers to act on a formidable issue. "If the right people come together and make a comprehensive plan around stopping it. If they really want to, I think they can."

We wanted to talk with MPD about the pursuit policy and the challenges they present, but the department was unable to coordinate an interview.