Archive for December, 2009

Pensacola Police Revises Policy

Monday, December 21st, 2009

On December 8, 2009, the Pensacola Police Department (PPD) announced that it had changed its “police chase” policy as a result of the death of 17 year old Victor Steen.  The change prohibits officers, in a police car,  from chasing vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians through heavily populated areas like apartment complexes and parking lots .  This change in policy comes after the PPD’s October revision to its taser policy, also a result of Steen’s death.  Officer Jerald Ard fatally injured Victor Steen on October 3, 2009 when Steen, on bicycle, fell into the path of Ard’s cruiser.  Officer Ard also fired a Taser from the window of his car while in pursuit of Steen.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to investigate Steen’s death and Officer Ard’s professional conduct.