Chief’s Counsel: Plumhoff v. Rickard: The Use of Deadly Force in High-Speed Pursuits and Qualified Immunity

As many officers and police executives know from experience, high-speed pursuits all too often end with tragic consequences. Police officers must balance the goals of law enforcement with the public’s safety (and their own) in such situations, which requires officers to make split-second decisions affecting the safety of citizens in harm’s way, the safety and well-being of the pursuing officers, and the safety of the fleeing suspect who is risking many more lives than his or her own.