Police pursuits are a standard part of law enforcement operating procedure, an often necessary tactic employed to curb serious criminal behavior. Yet they’re also particularly dangerous: in the U.S. between 2017 and 2022, 3,336 people were killed during police pursuits.
This study by Jones and Swanson, which in part limits its focus to Georgia statistics and the Georgia State Patrol, looks at pursuit crash statistics in detail and evaluates to what extent pursuits are unnecessarily unsafe. It also considers the implications of dangerous state patrol pursuits and highlights how the issue has become such a problem.
Before focusing closely on Georgia data, it’s helpful to put the state into a broader national context.
U.S. Police Pursuit Numbers
Most U.S. police pursuits are carried out during the spring and summer. Of the 3,336 people killed between 2017 and 2022 during countrywide police pursuits, these are the key fatality months.
During the years in question, 2020 featured the most fatalities (697).
March 18, 2021, featured the most police pursuit deaths (10) in a single day.
When we consider the five states with the most police pursuit fatalities during the period in question, Georgia features prominently:
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Texas: 414
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California: 367
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Georgia: 243
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Missouri: 127
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Florida: 124
A more granular breakdown of pursuit fatality data reveals the counties and cities nationwide that recorded the highest numbers of police pursuit deaths during this period.
Gender, Race, and Age
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Gender: 2,543 men were killed, compared to 746 women.
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Race: More White people (1,243) were killed than any other group, followed by Black people (1,027). White Latino (393), Latino (124), and 358 “Unknown” victims also account for significant numbers.
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Age: The 25–34 age group suffered the most fatalities (929), followed by 18–24 (800), 35–44 (550), 0–17 (342), and 45–54 (292).
The Reasons Given for a Police Pursuit
More than 1,000 innocent people — 551 bystanders and 548 passengers — were killed during police pursuits. This exceeds the number of fleeing drivers killed (920), suggesting that many victims had no direct involvement in the incident that triggered the pursuit.
Reasons given for initiating pursuits (national):
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Traffic stops: 949 fatalities
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Suspected nonviolent crime: 574 fatalities
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Suspected violent crime: 284 fatalities
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Minor incidents/no suspected crime: 39 fatalities
This raises concerns about the proportionality of police responses. Traffic stops can include serious offenses such as DUI, but they can also involve minor infractions like speeding or mechanical issues. Pursuing a fleeing driver over such issues can result in needless deaths — especially when innocent bystanders and passengers are disproportionately harmed.
Comparing suspected nonviolent crime fatalities (574) with violent crime fatalities (284) further suggests an imbalance in the risk calculus.
Georgia-specific pursuit reasons follow similar trends.
Fatalities by Law Enforcement Agency
Among all law enforcement agencies listed, Georgia State Patrol recorded the highest number of pursuit-related fatalities (43), followed by:
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California Highway Patrol: 40
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U.S. Border Patrol: 32
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Houston Police Department: 27
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Chicago Police Department: 22
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Kansas City Police Department: 19
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Texas Department of Public Safety: 19
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Virginia State Police: 17
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Harris County Sheriff’s Office: 16
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Milwaukee Police Department: 16
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Los Angeles Police Department: 16
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St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department: 14
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Detroit Police Department: 13
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North Carolina State Highway Patrol: 12
Georgia Pursuit Trends
Georgia experienced 243 total fatalities between 2017 and 2022.
Year-by-year breakdown:
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2017: 34
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2018: 39
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2019: 32
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2020: 67
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2021: 49
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2022: 22
2020 saw the highest number of fatalities.
The worst single day for police pursuit deaths was September 27, 2019, when five people died after a pursuit triggered by an attempted traffic stop. The victims included:
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Two elderly women in incidental vehicles struck by the pursued vehicle
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Three occupants of the fleeing vehicle, including the driver
The driver had two outstanding warrants for minor offenses committed outside Georgia. Five deaths under such circumstances highlight the dangers of high-speed pursuit tactics for lower-level infractions.
Top Georgia counties for pursuit fatalities:
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Fulton: 37
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Chatham: 14
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Clayton: 10
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Whitfield: 8
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Dekalb: 8
Top Georgia cities:
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Atlanta: 24
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Savannah: 6
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Midway: 5
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Jackson: 5
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Tunnel Hill: 5
Georgia’s gender and age trends mirror national patterns.
However, Georgia diverges sharply in racial impact:
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Black people killed: 139
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White people killed: 66
Additionally, 80 passengers and bystanders were killed in Georgia — significantly higher than the 55 fleeing drivers killed.
The Pursuit of Safer Police Chase Tactics
Nationally, fatality data shows disproportionate pursuit risk for non-serious offenses and for uninvolved victims. In Georgia, the issue is pronounced: the state ranks third for overall pursuit fatalities and first for agency-specific fatalities via Georgia State Patrol.
Unlike 42 other states requiring supervisor approval before engaging in a pursuit, Georgia State Patrol troopers may initiate a chase at their own discretion. This appears to contribute to frequent, risky pursuits.
Supporting data:
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87% of GSP pursuits in 2023 involved non-felony violations
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From 2019–2023, 6,760 pursuits were recorded
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3,428 pursuits (over half) ended in crashes
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1,917 people were injured
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63 people were killed
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Only 14 days in 2023 had no GSP chase
Georgia State Patrol leadership argues that its pursuit policy is “proportionally responsive,” citing street racing, aggressive driving, and speeding concerns. Critics, however, suggest the policies demonstrate “a lack of responsibility and carelessness” regarding public safety.
Adopting the Atlanta Police Department’s stricter standard — allowing pursuits only when the fleeing person has committed or attempted a forcible felony or poses an imminent threat — could drastically reduce fatalities.
