MPD reports 970 pursuits in 2025 and proposes narrower rules for reckless-driving chases
January 22, 2026 | Milwaukee , Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
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The Milwaukee Police Department told the Fire and Police Commission on Jan. 22 that it ended 2025 with 970 vehicle pursuits, a 1% increase from 2024, and outlined changes to its SOP 660 vehicle-pursuit policy aimed at reducing risk.
Assistant chief who presented the data said the department's internal tally shows 742 pursuits were for reckless driving (about 76%), followed by violent-felony-related pursuits at roughly 19%. The department reported 316 pursuit-related crashes in 2025, nine fatalities identified as pursuit-related, and 747 individuals taken into custody in incidents tied to pursuits.
As part of a policy update, MPD proposed that for a reckless-driving initiation officers must observe at least one additional condition beyond speed: collision with another vehicle, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action, or a failure to stop at a controlled intersection without slowing. "Vehicle speed in and of itself can't be the only factor," the department said.
MPD also outlined mitigation technologies it has submitted for procurement, including StarChase (a GPS tracking device that adheres to a vehicle) and the Haas Alert Safety Cloud (an alerting system that can notify drivers during emergency responses). The department said it will continue to deploy tire-deflation devices (stop sticks), which it used 111 times in 2025, and will coordinate implementation and training with emergency communications staff.
Commissioners pressed for stricter limits, referencing national best-practice recommendations that prioritize violent-crime-only standards and urge tighter limits on officer discretion. One commissioner said they plan to use the commission's newly formalized policy-recommendation process to propose a more restrictive standard to the common council.
MPD noted the policy is set to take effect Feb. 1, following a roughly 30-day effective lag for internal implementation and training; the commission did not vote on the SOP at the meeting and said it would continue to review and may forward formal recommendations.
Assistant chief who presented the data said the department's internal tally shows 742 pursuits were for reckless driving (about 76%), followed by violent-felony-related pursuits at roughly 19%. The department reported 316 pursuit-related crashes in 2025, nine fatalities identified as pursuit-related, and 747 individuals taken into custody in incidents tied to pursuits.
As part of a policy update, MPD proposed that for a reckless-driving initiation officers must observe at least one additional condition beyond speed: collision with another vehicle, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action, or a failure to stop at a controlled intersection without slowing. "Vehicle speed in and of itself can't be the only factor," the department said.
MPD also outlined mitigation technologies it has submitted for procurement, including StarChase (a GPS tracking device that adheres to a vehicle) and the Haas Alert Safety Cloud (an alerting system that can notify drivers during emergency responses). The department said it will continue to deploy tire-deflation devices (stop sticks), which it used 111 times in 2025, and will coordinate implementation and training with emergency communications staff.
Commissioners pressed for stricter limits, referencing national best-practice recommendations that prioritize violent-crime-only standards and urge tighter limits on officer discretion. One commissioner said they plan to use the commission's newly formalized policy-recommendation process to propose a more restrictive standard to the common council.
MPD noted the policy is set to take effect Feb. 1, following a roughly 30-day effective lag for internal implementation and training; the commission did not vote on the SOP at the meeting and said it would continue to review and may forward formal recommendations.
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