By Joanna Putman
Police1
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A Milwaukee officer is recovering after being hit by a cruiser during a pursuit, WISN reported.
The officer was hospitalized after the March 30 incident, according to the report. The pursuit began when officers attempted to stop a car wanted in connection to a carjacking and shooting.
The driver sped off, leading police on a chase captured by state transportation cameras. Videos show the car entering and exiting interstate ramps. At one point, the suspect vehicle can be seen on surveillance video crossing lanes of traffic to make a quick exit off the freeway; some cruisers followed, while others continued straight.
The car can be seen speeding down the ramp and across an intersection before entering the freeway ramp on the other side.
“We’re back on the interstate. We’re back on the interstate from 35th Street,” a law enforcement officer can be heard saying on dispatch audio.
An officer was waiting at the end of the ramp, ready to deploy a spike strip, video shows. The suspect vehicle avoided the strips by swerving onto the freeway before the end of the ramp. The officer took steps nearer to freeway traffic, still attempting to stop the vehicle with the spike strips, before turning around and running back toward the shoulder.
As the officer tried to run off the road, video shows another cruiser in the pursuit strike the officer on the ramp.
The officer was taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the report. The suspect vehicle escaped the pursuit.
This video, guided by insights from risk management expert Gordon Graham, offers a detailed examination of best practices and safety considerations that can protect both officers and the public during high-risk vehicle pursuits.