What To Do About High-Speed Chases?

Milwaukee Police Department officer pulls over a vehicle on N. 12th Ln. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

A proposal to change Milwaukee Police Department policy on high-speed chases is showing the limits of a 2023 state law change that stripped the Fire & Police Commission of its policymaking authority.

The commission, previously described as one of the most powerful in the nation, wants MPD to prohibit officers from pursuing suspects in select instances, but it no longer has the authority to change policy itself. The Common Council, which gained the ability to modify MPD policy with a two-thirds vote, appears unlikely to back the commission.

“The Milwaukee pursuit policy is dangerous and it’s dangerous because it’s too permissive,” said Bree Spencer, FPC vice chair, to the council’s Public Safety & Health Committee on June 11. “We know it’s too permissive because we are way off the national standard.”

Spencer cited 10 deaths from chases in 2025, including a person who died months later following a 2024 chase that left them paralyzed. Many of those killed were not involved in the chase.

“[Chases] should not be used as often as they are being used now,” said FPC Commissioner Krissie Fung. She suggested an expanded use of drones or other tools as alternatives. “There are multiple tools in the tool belt … I think it’s an oversimplification to pretend that vehicle pursuits are the only way to prevent reckless driving.”

The commission, by unanimous vote, wants MPD to stop initiating chases when it attempts to pull over a suspect for a non-reckless driving offense and the suspect flees.

“The intention isn’t to eliminate or prohibit chases in all or most cases,” said FPC Executive Director Leon W. Todd, III, who serves as the board’s non-voting secretary.

MPD data show the policy would apply to 15% of stops. Out of 970 chases in 2025, 111 wouldn’t have occurred, according to MPD’s analysis. The FPC, analyzing a different year, determined it would apply to about 15% of chases.

Police department data show that the nine deaths stemming from 2025 incidents were caused by six chases. More than 200 of the chases resulted in crashes.

The commission proposal comes as about two-thirds of chases involve reckless driving.

“We are certainly not arguing that we should stop chasing reckless drivers entirely,” said Fung.

But MPD, said Chief of Staff Heather Hough, is already taking steps to rein in chases and wants to see the effect of its latest policy change, which went into effect in February.

“Reckless driving is real and we want pursuits to be able to deter that activity,” she said.

The February change allows officers to terminate a chase without fear of discipline if they believe continuing the chase poses a risk to public safety. It also prohibits speed from being the sole factor for initiating a chase.

Assistant Chief Craig Sarnow said a StarChase GPS tracking system, which involves shooting a projectile at a fleeing vehicle to track it, is being installed on two squad cars in each of the seven districts.

Ald. Sharlen P. Moore is leading the push on the council to adopt the commission’s recommendation. “Last year, we had 10 deaths as a result of police chases. I can’t imagine what their loved ones will go through for the rest of their lives. I just can’t,” said Moore.

Moore and Fung both said the chases are becoming expensive for the city, though the City Attorney’s Office declined to state in open session what form of pending litigation the city faces resulting from chases. The city has previously paid out multiple six-figure settlements stemming from injuries or deaths related to chases.

But Moore found little support from her colleagues.

“Police were not the reasons for these deaths. They were following policies,” said Ald. Mark Chambers Jr., echoing a comment made by fellow committee member Ald. Peter Burgelis.

They also expressed concern about changing the policy shortly after MPD just changed it and asked why FPC was demanding the changes so quickly.

Fung said MPD and FPC were considering changes on “parallel tracks,” with the commission having heard several hours of testimony across multiple meetings. MPD, according to a letter from Chief Jeffrey Norman, also conducted public outreach through the community.

Because the FPC lost its policy making authority, the issue had to be relitigated in front of the council after the commission reviewed it.

Hough said MPD is committed to finding a way to improve the process following the 2023 law change.

The committee voted 4-1 to place the measure on file, recommending to the full council it be rejected. Moore voted against the recommendation, with Chambers, Burgelis, Scott Spiker and Larresa Taylor endorsing rejecting the commission’s request.

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