At least 3,336 people died in police car chases in the U.S. between 2017 and 2022, including at least five individuals in DC. Black people are killed in police chases at a rate four times that of white drivers.
Since August 14, 2025, there have been 28 federal police chases in Washington, DC. Park Police officers have been part of 22 of these chases, 18 of which resulted in crashes. The pursuits began as traffic stops for nonviolent offenses.
In 2022, the District of Columbia passed the D.C. Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, a bill to protect the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, by changing the rules for vehicular pursuits by police officers.
Today, the policy has been revoked. What changed and how did we get here?
In October 2020, a man was driving a rental scooter without a helmet on the sidewalk in the 400 block of Kennedy Street in DC when two separate DC police cars attempted to stop him. When the man continued driving, the police officers switched on the lights in their vehicles and began a three-minute pursuit through neighborhood streets, in the presence of pedestrians and other vehicles. The pursuit at times reached speeds of 45 miles per hour, while driving the wrong way on one-way streets and through seven stop signs, witnesses said. After a chase covering 10 blocks, the driver of the scooter attempted to exit out of an alley on the 700 block of Kennedy Street when he was struck by another driver, later dying at the hospital.
At the time of the crash, police policy forbade pursuit of a vehicle if the only reason was a traffic stop. The two officers involved were prosecuted. In September 2024, one of the officers received a five-and-a-half-year sentence for the murder.
In an effort to increase safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists in DC, the District passed the D.C. Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, wherein law enforcement officers were not to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects fleeing in motor vehicles unless the officer reasonably believes:
- the suspect was involved in a crime of violence or poses an immediate and serious threat to another person
- the pursuit is necessary to prevent that threat and is not likely to result in death or serious injury to any person, and
- all other options have been exhausted or are unreasonable given the circumstances.
Experts have long studied police pursuits, balancing their potential to stop criminals from doing harm with the way high-speed chases can endanger suspects, officers and innocent passersby alike. The Justice Department funded a 2023 report examining police vehicle pursuits and recommending best practices. In the report, Chuck Wexler — executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum — wrote that pursuits should take place only when two standards have been met: a violent crime has been committed, and the suspect poses an imminent threat to commit another violent crime. If those conditions are not met, Wexler wrote, agencies must find an alternative.
Why was this rolled back?
On August 11, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14333, “Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia,” based on his determination that special conditions of an emergency nature existed that required the use of the Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes. This Executive Order allowed the services of the Police Department of the District to be used for protecting federal property and ensuring conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the federal government, stating that maintaining public order and safety has a direct impact on the federal government’s ability to operate efficiently to address the nation’s broader interests.
Following the Executive Order, the policy and procedures for federal law enforcement agencies were greatly expanded. Many policies have caused controversy, including changes to rules regarding federal police chases from a strict policy with tight rules to a relaxation of time, place, and alleged crimes for which the federal police can attempt high speed police chases through the streets, roundabouts, and parkways of DC.
During a Presidential cabinet meeting on August 26, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced changes to the United States Park Police. The Union representing these officers posted to its X account on August 27, 2025, warning all criminals USPP FOP bargained a new vehicle pursuit policy with management. If you flee from a traffic stop in DC, we will chase you – and we will catch you. Tell your friends.
By August 31, 2025, The Washington Post had reported ten federal car chases, and six crashes, all of which began as traffic stops for nonviolent crimes. In four of the six crashes, the fleeing suspects struck vehicles that were not part of the pursuit. Court records do not indicate anyone was seriously injured. Seven of the pursuits identified the officer chasing the suspect, and according to court records, five appear to involve the same detective sergeant.
DC police policy also precludes officers from pursuing cars with fake tags, often a sign that the vehicle is stolen. Half of the Park Police pursuits in August involved cars with fake or stolen tags, court records show. Park Police union chairman Kenneth Spencer said in a statement to Fox News Radio with Brian Kilmeade that the policy was temporary and would remain in effect until the end of the crime emergency.
The 30-day emergency expired on September 10, 2025. Since that date, Park Police have engaged in at least five car chases, even though President Trump’s general order stated the pursuit policy would only be in effect for the duration of the crime emergency.
The House of Representatives introduced H.R. 5143 on September 4, 2025, as an attempt to establish standards for law enforcement.
For many Democrats, crime has been an issue since 2020, with the death of George Floyd, which popularized the phrase “defund the police.” Many Democratic politicians have tried to distance themselves from the opinion in the years since. On August 29, 2025, House Democrats joined Republicans to vote in favor of House Bill 5143, which would lower the standards for DC police to engage in vehicular chases of fleeing suspects, specifically, rolling back the D.C. Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
Questions of safety for DC residents and visitors
The new legislation has angered the DC Council, local advocates, and citizens. Opponents of the legislation have been raising the issue of safety on city streets, stating the high-speed pursuits on crowded city streets can endanger the public, and that DC should be left to decide its own policing policies.
Many local leaders have decried the measures, saying the bills would put residents at risk, while trampling on the city’s limited autonomy. Many fear the increased federal presence will make it more difficult for local authorities to handle an emergency. Following the passage of the bill in the House, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, stated the focus would now shift to the Senate, where at least seven Democrats would have to vote with Republicans to overcome a filibuster.
Representative Glenn Ivey (D-Maryland) is a former DC prosecutor who has experienced firsthand the pain caused by high-speed chases. He warns the change could put the city on the hook for lawsuits filed on behalf of those killed, fearing that when deaths happen, his colleagues in the House won’t be anywhere to be found. “We have diagonal roads…and we’ve got circles,” Ivey explained. “A high-speed chase in the middle of the District of Columbia…is, almost by definition, dangerous. So, you’d better have a really good reason to engage in a pursuit like that.”
On September 25, 2025 Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Burgum and U.S. Park Police demanding a briefing on these pursuits, recognizing the USPP (United State Park Police) pursuit are among “the most dangerous of police activities,” and writing “it remains unclear what legal authority, if any, currently authorizes the USPP to conduct these dangerous chases, other than presidential fiat.”
Liability in Police Chases
If you were traveling within Washington, DC and suffered injuries as a result of police officers chasing you, or as an innocent driver or bystander simply due to your location, you may have the legal right to pursue compensation for your injuries. Police officers are government representatives and have the duty to make decisions that protect the public and ensure their safety. If an investigation determines a police officer acted negligently, recklessly, or without public safety in mind, you may have the right to pursue a claim for your injuries.
Victims from these high-speed crashes may incur a wide range of injuries including death; gunshot wounds; broken bones and fractures; traumatic brain injuries; paralysis; nerve damage; neck and back injuries; and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Recovery from these claims can include past/present/future medical bills, past lost wages, future loss of earning capacity, loss of consortium, and past and future pain and suffering.
Lawsuits involving governmental representatives are complicated and very different than claims against a private citizen or corporation. Many governmental entities have immunity from claims and special rules exist in regard to these lawsuits. To protect your claims, contact a personal injury attorney to help you understand your rights.
The personal injury lawyers at Joseph, Greenwald & Laake have forty years of experience in Maryland, DC and nationwide. We can help review the facts and circumstances, explain the circumstances where a lawsuit is possible, and evaluate your claim for damages.
Get the facts. Get educated.
