Report: AJC investigates deadly high-speed pursuits by Georgia Sate Patrol

An in-depth investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , led by reporters Asia Simone Burns and Justin Price, has uncovered a pattern of high-speed pursuits by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) endangering innocent bystanders and leading to numerous injuries and deaths.

The investigation found that over five years from 2019 to 2023, GSP troopers were involved in 6,700 pursuits, resulting in more than 3,400 crashes, at least 1,900 injuries, and 63 deaths. Many of the victims were bystanders or passengers in the vehicles being chased by troopers, not the drivers fleeing authorities.

Unlike most other state law enforcement agencies across the country, the GSP’s pursuit policy offers troopers near-total discretion to initiate and continue pursuits, regardless of the severity of the initial offense – often minor traffic vioolations – or the potential risk to the public. The policy does not require troopers to obtain supervisory approval before pursuing or performing dangerous maneuvers, such as Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers, even at high speeds.

“The cost of all the injuries and deaths is not worth it,” said Lou Dekmar, a retired Georgia police chief and former president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “Especially when most of these started with misdemeanor offenses or traffic infractions.”

The investigation also found that people died in Georgia more often as a result of pursuits on roadways than in any other state, according to federal data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Read the full report at his link: www.ajc.com/chases .

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