L.A. County Gets New Guidelines On Armed Suspects

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VIA CBS2:

Faced with a string of shootings by deputies, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department disclosed new guidelines Wednesday telling officers it's often better to contain armed suspects and wait for backup than give chase to arrest them. 

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Sheriff Lee Baca, believes it's the first such policy in the nation. 

"The sheriff saw a need for the department to re-examine how it handles deputy-involved shootings," he said, noting there were 16 fatal shootings by deputies last year compared to nine in 2008. 

The new guidelines are detailed in a 30-page booklet compiled by a panel of senior officers convened by Baca in September to study procedures involving foot pursuits by the nation's largest sheriff's department. 

Baca said the recommendations would minimize the potential for "officer-created jeopardy," where officers unnecessarily place themselves in harm's way. 

"The practice of chasing to apprehend was a department culture that needed to be addressed," the booklet states. "In many cases, it may be safer to chase to contain rather than chase to apprehend." 

A representative for the union representing deputies was not immediately available for comment. 

Jim Denney, executive director of the California State Sheriffs Association, said pursuit policies vary widely by county. He did not know if there was a policy exactly like the one in Los Angeles.