After a recent tragic accident involving a police chase in Dallas, the Dallas Police Department instituted a new policy of calling off car chases deemed too dangerous. I had mixed emotions about the policy change. Certainly, the law-abiding public should not be subjected to unnecessary risk; however, are they not subjected to risk if the criminal element is given a bye?
Unfortunately, this policy proved to be ineffective this past Thursday night. Eric Austin, on probation for a DWI offense, was spotted driving erratically by a police officer. The officer tried to pull him over; Austin fled. The officer took down the license plate number and did not pursue. When Mr. Austin reached Mockingbird Lane and Maple Avenue a short time later, he broadsided a car driven by Clay Cornutt of Morgan, Texas. Mr. Cornutt was killed.
We'll never know if the policeman would have been able to safely stop Austin if he had pursued him. But I somehow believe the Cornutt family wishes he had been able to try. I also somehow believe they, like I, wonder why this man wasn't in jail instead of driving drunk on city streets on a suspended license.
"Driver in fatal crash was on DWI probation." The Dallas Morning News; November 8, 2008; p. 2B.
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