Police Car Chases Plummet After Policy Shift
October 29, 2025
THE CITY’s 2024 investigations into the massive spike in deadly police car chases led to changed NYPD policies and a significant drop in vehicle pursuits.
We found that police car pursuits resulted in more than one crash per day in 2024, causing 20 deaths and more than 600 injuries. THE CITY has been tracking this trend ever since vehicle pursuits and deadly collisions began to skyrocket in late 2022 under the leadership and directives of now-retired Chief of Police John Chell (whom the city later revealed to have been dodging his taxes).
Within a month, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued new guidance to limit use of the aggressive tactic – within weeks, data showed car chases dropped by 66%. In October 2025, City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán introduced legislation to further limit dangerous police chases.
OUR REPORTING ON THE ISSUE
More Than a Crash a Day as NYPD Keeps Pedal to the Metal on Car Chases
December 16, 2024April 15, 2025, 12:39 p.m.
Lawmaker Seeks to Curb Deadly NYPD Car Chases After Upsurge
October 29, 2025Oct. 29, 2025, 10:45 a.m.
NYPD Car Chases Drop by 66% in First Weeks of Policy Shift
January 30, 2025Jan. 30, 2025, 5:47 p.m.
New NYPD Commissioner Reverses Course on Deadly Vehicle Pursuits
January 15, 2025Jan. 22, 2025, 12:14 p.m.
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