PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Putnam County is changing its vehicle pursuit policy to allow deputies to chase any fleeing motorist, a shift from the previous rule that limited chases to suspects of violent felonies, DUIs, or reckless driving.
The update aims to address a growing problem of drivers fleeing from law enforcement during traffic stops.
Major David Ussery of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office explained the change. “Everybody is running from us now. They know if we turn our blue lights on, keep going,” he said.
The new policy will mirror the Florida Highway Patrol’s recently updated pursuit guidelines, which loosened restrictions on when troopers can initiate chases.
However, this change has come with risks. A recent study showed that fatal crashes involving FHP pursuits tripled from five in 2023 to 15 in 2024 after the policy was relaxed.
Despite these risks, Putnam County officials say they must crack down on fleeing drivers to maintain public safety. “In a nutshell, you had to commit a murder for us to chase you, and people started finding out that we were not chasing individuals,” Major Ussery said.
The sheriff’s office acknowledges the dangers of vehicle pursuits and emphasizes that deputies will still need to consider factors such as weather, population density, time of day, and location before deciding to continue a chase.
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“You have to consider all things, like weather, population, who’s out and about? What time of day? Your location,” Ussery said.
Deputies will be expected to err on the side of caution and can cancel pursuits if conditions suggest a high risk of fatal crashes.
Major Ussery warned that deputies could face legal consequences if a pursuit leads to a fatality and does not involve a suspect of a violent felony. “We could potentially be arrested and charged with a crime,” he said.
The updated policy reflects a broader trend in the region, as Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County, and Clay County have also revised their pursuit policies following FHP’s lead.
While the new rules allow deputies to pursue motorists fleeing for any traffic infraction, Major Ussery stressed that chases will not be mandatory in every situation. Deputies will ultimately retain discretion to decide when a pursuit is justified and safe.