High-speed pursuits: ‘Some agencies do training later, some probably don’t’

(InvestigateTV) — It takes months to become a law enforcement officer in South Carolina. For part of that training, officers are on the track learning something called precision driving.

WIS Investigates went through the driving course at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and saw how prospective officers learn how to steer and carefully drive through sharp curves and busy streets.

Jackie Swindler, the director of the academy, said they teach “precision driving,” but said it’s not pursuit-specific.

“Because individual agencies will teach their officers what their pursuit policy is,” Swindler said.

In South Carolina, there is no law that tells officers when they can initiate a pursuit. Because of that, pursuit methods and policies vary from agency to agency.

For example, some departments only initiate a pursuit if someone is suspected of committing a violent crime. Other department policies give officers the authority to pursue for any crimes, including misdemeanors or traffic offenses.

“Some agencies do training later, some probably don’t,” Swindler said.

Investigative Reporter Cynthia Beasley examines why policies differ across police forces.

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