{"id":317382,"date":"2026-06-23T22:07:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/317382\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T22:07:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:07:07","slug":"if-it-goes-bad-it-goes-really-bad-former-officer-weighs-risks-after-recent-high-speed-pursuit-in-tallahassee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/317382\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018If it goes bad, it goes really bad\u2019: Former officer weighs risks after recent high-speed pursuit in Tallahassee"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A retired law enforcement officer of 30 years is weighing in on the hour-long high-speed chase throughout Tallahassee<\/a> last week. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the most dangerous things we can be involved in,\u201d John Creamer said. \u201cIf it goes bad, it goes really bad.\u201d <\/p>\n

Arrest papers show Zachary Read was taken into custody,<\/a> accused of leading law enforcement on that chase. <\/p>\n

Creamer said the decision to pursue a car is high-stakes. <\/p>\n

\u201cPolice chiefs and sheriffs have been wrestling with this decision because we have to balance the need to take a violent offender into custody versus the need to keep the community safe,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

He also pointed out that having the aerial view from the Leon County Sheriff\u2019s Office helicopter significantly helps law enforcement on the ground. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the helicopter\u2019s trailing the vehicle, now the officers can create a coordinated response to when the vehicle comes to a stop,\u201d Creamer said. \u201cIt takes a lot of the danger out.\u201d <\/p>\n

More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n

The Florida Highway Patrol reported there were seven hit-and-runs as a result of last week\u2019s chase, prompting a different discussion about insurance. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have uninsured motorists coverage,\u201d Attorney Hal Lewis with Fonvielle, Lewis, Messer & McConnaughhay said. \u201cThat\u2019s what protects us from hit-and-run accidents, from stolen vehicle accidents, or even in situations where the driver just doesn\u2019t have very much insurance.\u201d <\/p>\n

According to Lewis, many people are unaware of how significant the protection can be. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to ask for it, specifically, because you\u2019re not getting it if you\u2019re just getting the basic insurance,\u201d he said. \u201cStill, it is so worth it because we\u2019re talking about astronomical damages, sometimes, in car accidents, that there\u2019s no other form of compensation. It covers lost wages. It covers medical bills, pain and suffering.\u201d <\/p>\n

He said it\u2019s unfortunate that many people find out about uninsured motorists coverage after a hit-and-run has occurred.<\/p>\n

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