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.

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