Chicago Police Debut Severely Restrictive Foot Chase Policy, Activists Say They Want Even Stricter Rules

The Chicago Police Department will roll out its revised foot chase policy on Friday, severely restricting officers from engaging in any foot pursuits unless there is “probable cause for an arrest” or officers believe a crime has been committed — but community activists say the new policy does not go far enough.

The policy, which The Daily Wire reported on in May, takes effect on Friday, severely restricts CPD foot chases, listing pursuits as “appropriate only when there is probable cause for an arrest or it is believed an individual has committed, is committing or is about to commit a crime.” Officers can no longer pursue potential suspects from “minor traffic offenses” or other “class A misdemeanors” “unless the person poses an obvious threat to the community or any person.”