WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of law enforcement officers nationwide in the case of County of Sacramento vs. Lewis, 96-1337.  The case involved the parents of a 16-year-old participant in a nighttime high-speed chase who brought suit against a sheriff’s deputy for the death of their son, Philip Lewis.  The 9-to-0 decision stated that unless police acted with “a purpose to cause harm,” high-speed chases that cause death or injury do not violate the Constitution.

“NAPO applauds the Supreme Court’s decision supporting the right of law enforcement officers to pursue those suspected of breaking the law.  Under this decision, Federal courts will no longer be able to second-guess, years later the decision of police officers on the scene to pursue suspects.

The Supreme Court has adopted our view that having lower courts substitute their judgement for those of police officers on the scene, who have to make split-second judgements, is an extremely poor way to make public policy.  Rejecting the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ policy of favoring suspects over the police, the Supreme Court has made this a fine day for law enforcement nationwide who put their lives on the line every day.”

Mr. Scully is available for interviews.  Please contact Jody Hedeman at (202) 842-3560.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States that serves in Washington, DC to advance the interests of America’s law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.  Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 4,000 police unions and associations, 250,000 sworn law enforcement officers, 3,000 retired officers and more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.