The Murfreesboro police chief has questioned the actions and judgment of other law enforcement agencies in a high speed chase that ended with the death of an innocent mother.
Chief Chief Karl Durr questioned the conduct of other law enforcement agencies in a strongly-worded letter sent to civic leaders.
He questioned officer judgment and called for a sweeping change to how chases are handled before more lives are lost.
Chief Durr's letter came in response to a fatal collision that claimed the life 28-year-old Jessica Campos.
She died after police said Garieon Simmons stole an SUV and led Manchester police along with Coffee County and Rutherford County Sheriff's deputies on a high speed chase that ended with him slamming into the driver's side of Campos' car.
Her friends and family reacted with sorrow and anger. "I've very upset about that. That chase should never have happened," Linda Romero. "An APB would have gotten that car. The police would have eventually gotten that car. The chase didn't have to happen."
Chief Durr seemed to agree. In a letter sent to the Murfreesboro City Council and mayor he wrote, "I feel the need to express my concerns and heavy heart over a recent tragedy in our city. The facts tell a troubling story."
Murfreesboro Police officers were not involved in the chase. Chief Durr said his officers typically don't engage in a chase unless it's a violent felony.
The chase out of Manchester was for a property crime and Durr questioned the judgment of those involved.
"Many of our officers are deeply upset over the decisions made which led to this tragedy... [there's] a need to protect the public and police from unnecessary risks created by indiscriminate high speed chases."
"I very much admire chief Durr not only for the point he raises, but the way he raises the points," said Councilman Bill Shacklett who believed something had to be said.
"This is a discussion that needs to take place," said Shacklett.
The letter was forwarded to state lawmakers in hopes of passing laws to keep something like this from happening again.
Chief Durr suggested that lawmakers adopt a policy that restricts pursuits only to cases when a violent felony has been committed.
