A commentary by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) 

Back in 2004, when the Somerville Police Advisory Group (often referred to as the “Harshbarger Commission”) came out with a comprehensive package of reforms and suggested improvements, one of the least controversial and least discussed recommendations called for a thorough overhaul of the department’s written policies and procedures.

But the effort to review and upgrade policies and procedures has been quietly and steadily under way ever since, and recent events have proved its very real importance.

The disastrous car crash on May 27 at Highland Road and Kidder Avenue was in part a consequence of a high-speed State Police chase through our some of our city‚Äôs narrowest and most densely-populated streets.  It has claimed two innocent lives and left a third victim in critical condition.  The primary responsibility for this appalling tragedy appears to rest with the unlicensed Somerville driver who refused to stop when a state trooper tried to pull him over in Everett.  But, from the earliest hours in the morning after the crash, Somerville residents have been repeating and discussing the same questions: ‚ÄúWas this accident avoidable?‚Äù ‚ÄúCould these innocent lives have spared?‚Äù

And this is where the boring, mundane, unglamorous process of updating police policies and procedures becomes so important ‚Äì because it turns out that the Somerville Police Department has taken a very careful look at the issues surrounding high-speed chases in populous urban neighborhoods.  And, under their policy on pursuits, which was updated just this past January, it seems unlikely that this chase would have occurred.

While recognizing that sometimes a pursuit is unavoidable, here are some of the guidelines our police policy contains:  ‚ÄúIt is the policy of the Department that pursuits are permissible only when the need for immediate capture outweighs the danger that may be created by the pursuit itself. Pursuit shall apply to only the most serious incidents . . . Pursuits for traffic violations, misdemeanors, and most property crimes, alone, are to be avoided . . . Officers, supervisors or commanders will not be criticized or disciplined for either declining to initiate or deciding to terminate a pursuit . . . A pursuit will be immediately terminated when the public safety is endangered to a degree greater than that represented by the offense for which the pursuit was undertaken.‚Äù

And here’s what the State Police policy has to say: “In certain circumstances, the most intelligent course of action may be to not pursue or to abandon pursuit when:
· The hazards of exposing the officer and the public to unnecessary risks are high;
· The environmental conditions indicate the futility to pursue or continue to pursue;
· The triviality of the offense warrants less aggressive enforcement;
· The pursuit initiated on a limited access highway proceeds into densely populated areas;
· The roadway, vehicles, or operators involved reveal degenerative factors; or
· When ordered to terminate pursuit.”

The entire episode is now under investigation by the State Police, and it‚Äôs still early to draw any hard conclusions.  But the questions I and other Somerville residents have raised have been picked up and amplified by, among others, the Boston Globe editorial board, and Boston Herald columnist Margery Eagan.

They are questions that deserve answers ‚Äì and the sooner the better.  They are also questions that remind us that the development and regular updating of policies and procedures ‚Äì like so much of the ‚Äúboring‚Äù business of governmental bureaucracy ‚Äì is really some of the most vital and important work we do. 

And one more thing:

The family and friends of crash victim Paul Farris have set up a special fund to provide support for Paul‚Äôs girlfriend Katelyn Hoyt, who remains in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.  Like to many vibrant young people, Katlyn had no health insurance and faces a demanding, and financially difficult, road to recovery 

Individuals wishing to contribute to the Farris-Hoyt Care Fund may do so in person at any TD Banknorth Branch, or may mail a check to:
Farris-Hoyt Care Fund
c/o Farris Law
PO Box 120
Gardiner, ME 04345

A directory of TD Banknorth branches is available on the web at www.tdbanknorth.com or through TD Banknorth Customer Service, 1-800-747-7000.   

Let’s all help if we can.