Idiot SC Mayor Tells Cops NOT to Chase Suspects, Even on Foot

Published on September 22nd, 2009

Wellford Mayor Sallie Peake Defends No Chase Policy | WSPA — Attention all criminals. Head to Wellford, SC. A bonanza awaits!

The Mayor of Wellford is defending her policy which bans police officers in that city from chasing suspects. Sallie Peake says the policy also includes vehicle chases along with pursuits on foot.

A memo issued on September 2nd from Peake to all Wellford officers reads:“As of this date, there are to be no more foot chases when a suspect runs. I do not want anyone chasing after any suspects whatsoever.

“WSPA first reported the mandate on Wednesday after an anonymous citizen faxed a copy of the memo to our newsroom. Peake was out of town and unavailable for comment. On Friday, reporter Chris Cato caught up with her in her office and questioned her about the origin of the policy. Peake says she issued the mandate because several officers have been injured during chases, driving up insurance costs for the town.

Making more sense with every minute.

Found by Steven Legault.

25 users responded in " Idiot SC Mayor Tells Cops NOT to Chase Suspects, Even on Foot "

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# 1 sargasso said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 am

Have people seen the size of cops, in South Carolina?

# 2 TooManyPuppies said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 am

You Lie!

# 3 Mojo Yugen said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:37 am

Guess the cops will just have to resort to shooting anyone who tries to run away.

# 4 Benjamin said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 am

So if you keep running away, they never can arrest you. Cool.

# 5 SparkyOne said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 am

i bet their swat team rides bikes

# 6 tcc3 said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:55 am

That going to put a crimp in Wellford’s biggest industry: speeding tickets.

# 7 echeola said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Who wants to go on a crime spree?!?!

I know a place!

# 8 marty577 said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm

What an idiot. The mayor probably is a criminal himself. #3 is right, just shoot them, no running necessary.

# 9 Cephus said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm

The mayor is a complete idiot. What’s more expensive, insurance for the police or having the majority of your law-abiding citizenry move away because there’s no one to protect them?

Heck, why not just disband the police altogether, at least they they won’t get hurt.

# 10 Jägermeister said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm

#8 – marty577 – The mayor probably is a criminal himself.

If that’s the case, he sure has a lot of estrogen, because he was elected as a woman.

# 11 stopher2475 said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm

Would you people please stop making fun of my future wife?

# 12 cornholer said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm

Typical democrat. The following scenario will play out very soon: Mayor walking to car, purse snatched, she yells at cop standing on the corner; “Get that motherfucker, chase his ass down and beat the hell out of him”.

# 13 bobbo, liberal, conservative and pragmatic said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm

I support the Mayor. Maybe “don’t run for more than 30 feet” would clarify the situation? Or maybe “don’t chase a perp unless you are in shape to do so?”

The effectiveness of the police/safety of the community is the police “system” not the individual athleticism of the human cogs.

Good police work is checking the computer before you knock on the front door. Having your backup at the rear entrance. Knowing where the perp’s Mom’s house is. Using the Radio. Accurate DNA collection and testing. Good files. Imagination.

Now, sure, for a foot race that seems pretty safe but hopefully no one thinks cops should car chase above safe speeds? Not entirely analogous, and the safety concern is a bit different, but it highlights many of the same underlying issues.

# 14 noname said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm

I can’t say the Mayor is stupid when police are killing innocent people.

# 15 BrimstoneAshe said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm

I don’t know if this necessarily a bad idea to be honest. Most cops at the end of a chase are often on high level of agitation/adrenaline rush. We’ve seen plenty of examples posted on this blog and around the net posting some pretty grim realities of when Cops cross the line.

So while there may be some truth to the insurance costs being her reason, such as an overweight police officer getting a heart attack after running 50 feet. I’d also wager it’s also to reduce the chance of some amp’d up cop hitting a fleeing suspect like Brian Urlacher, snapping their neck, and putting them into a coma.

Because as this blog post points, South Carolina isn’t winning any intellectual awards these days — I’m sure their law enforcement isn’t an exception.

# 16 Ather said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm

Intelligence, as this blog shows, is highly over rated.

That blond is intelligent enough for me.

# 17 Ah_Yea said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm

This is only the first step. Next the mayor will outlaw guns for personal protection.

Then the mayor will declare Wellford a “Gun Free Zone”.

We know what comes next, and it ain’t nirvana.

# 18 Hugh Ripper said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm

What if the perps have donuts? Is it OK to chase then?

# 19 John C Dvorak said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Sorry, but I just have to reprise this classic!!

IT NEVER GETS OLD!!

# 20 TooManyPuppies said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm

But John, you know you’d hit it.

# 21 noname said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 5:16 pm

# 19 John C Dvorak,

Yes the video will never gets old, but you John; aren’t that young stout and true lad anymore.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

# 22 deowll said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 6:37 pm

So you take care of the bad guys yourself and don’t bother with the cops until it’s all over? Quaint. Some of the people who post here should approve of that.

# 23 noname said, on September 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm

# 22 deowll,

What many people disapprove of (and not just in this post) is the idea of giving the police a blank check of power.

People want to be able to fairly criticize the police for their over zealous and heinous actions.

After all, it’s government for the people, by the people, and; not government for itself, by itself, which; is what you seem to be proposing.

# 24 Ofc. Dick said, on September 23rd, 2009 at 7:05 am

More and more cities are adopting simuliar policies with regard to vehicle pursuits. I know of several cities where policies are so strict that officers are not even allow to set up spike strips for a car jacking suspect in a current pursuit from another city. Here in my midwest city unless it is a violent fellony suspect the vehicle is not to be pursued. So bad guy breaks into your house and steals your car with all your toys and a smokey spots the vehicle driving down the street. Cop lights the car up and the driver doesn’t stop. Then the cop is suspose to turn of lights and drive away in the opposite direction.

Criminals just need a head start to be successful in life.

# 25 Rick Cain said, on September 24th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

He’s probably concerned about his donut-laced cops with clogged arteries getting heart attacks on the job trying to chase down a 105 pound black man with air jordans and the running pace of a typical mountain goat.

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