People call for change to MPD pursuit policy at Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission meeting
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --
Tuesday night's, Sept. 16, crash is the latest in a string of police chases that have ended in deadly crashes across Milwaukee.
So far, eight people have died this year in crashes caused by people running from the cops, there was one such death last year.
Now, some people in the community are demanding that the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) changes its approach to pursuits.
People packed the latest Fire and Police Commission meeting last night, Sept. 19, including family and loved ones of 30-year-old Hasan Harris. He was killed on Aug. 23, near 51st and Center in a crash stemming from a police chase.
The mother of Harris's son was one of the speakers and she described some of the pain she's feeling.
"I'm shortchanged a family member," she said. "He [Harri's son] is shortchanged a dad. I'm the one that has to answer to my son when he says, 'hey mom, where's dad?'"
MPD's current policy allows officers to chase a suspect if that vehicle is connected to a violent crime or they believe the driver's actions are putting people at risk.
Officers are warned to consider conditions such as traffic and time of day when it comes to calling off a pursuit.