The Chicago Police Department has announced a new foot-pursuit policy that officials say makes the safety of officers and members of the public a priority.
The new policy, revealed Wednesday, comes in the wake of chases that ended with cops shooting and killing Adam Toledo, 13, and Anthony Alvarez, 21.
Toledo was killed on March 29 after he fled from officers on foot as they responded to reports of a shooing. The teen, who was armed, was shot dead by an officer after running down an alleyway in the dark.
Just two days later, on March 31, Alvarez was fatally shot in the back by a Chicago police officer while pursued him on foot for what Mayor Lori Lightfoot described as 'a minor traffic violation'. He was armed with a gun.
The new policy prohibits officers from giving chase on foot for minor traffic violations.
It also bars officers from separating from partners if they can't see the person they are chasing or if the officer or the person is injured.
Under the new rules, a chase must end if the officer has lost track of their location or their surroundings, if there is too much distance or obstacles between the officer and the person they are chasing, and if they will not be able to control the subject of the chase in a confrontation.
In addition, officers must first consider if the need to apprehend a suspect is worth the risk to the officer, the public or the subject before a foot pursuit takes place.
The policy also says officers can pursue people on foot only if they have probable cause the person committed a crime or believe that they´re about to commit one.
The Chicago Police Department has announced a new foot-pursuit policy that officials say makes the safety of officers and members of the public a priority. The new policy comes in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Adam Toledo (pictured)
lvarez was fatally shot in the back by a Chicago police officer while pursued him on foot for what Mayor Lori Lightfoot described as 'a minor traffic violation'. He was armed with a gun
Police officers must additionally activate body worn cameras for every foot pursuit.
Superintendent David Brown said officers had been using the strategies during foot chases, but making the strategy a written policy would make officers subject to disciplinary action if they violate it.
The new policy will temporarily go into effect June 11. The public will have an opportunity to offer feedback before it becomes permanent in September.
'It's essential the voices of our officers and community members are represented in policies that can directly affect them,' Brown stated on Wednesday.
'As we transform the police department through reform, we will continue to collaborate with our residents to make Chicago safer for everyone.'
The announcement of the new policy comes four years after the Department of Justice issued a report saying too many Chicago police chases were unnecessary or ended with officers shooting people they didn´t need to and two years after a judge signed off on a consent decree requiring the department to adopt a foot pursuit policy.
The deaths of Toledo and Alvarez sparked outrage, with Mayor Lightfoot promising reform
The week after the fatal shootings of Toledo and Alvarez, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the department would implement a foot pursuit policy by summer.
'Because foot pursuits are one of the most dangerous actions that police officers can engage in, we cannot afford to wait any longer to put a policy in place that regulates them,' Lightfoot said in a statement announcing the policy.
Police officials say officers will undergo training to familiarize them with the new policy. The training will focus on the responsibilities of the pursuing officer, including the considerations the officer must take into account before taking up a pursuit and what should be done during a pursuit.
The week after the fatal shootings of Toledo and Alvarez, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the department would implement a foot pursuit policy by summer
The Chicago Police Department has announced a new foot-pursuit policy that officials say makes the safety of officers and members of the public a priority
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