North Charleston police look at high-speed chases

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Police in North Charleston are discussing whether to change their policy on high-speed pursuits.

Police Chief Jon Zumalt tells The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/qosiGX) that he thinks it’s worthwhile to take a look at the policy after recent chases that ended in wrecks. No one was seriously injured in those wrecks.

But Zumalt says the police should look at the number of high-speed pursuits in the city, how many officers were involved and whether any policy changes or training are needed.

In 2009, 302 people were killed nationwide as a result of police chases, including three in South Carolina. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 96 of those people were bystanders.