ezgoin59, I respectfully disagree.  Can you imagine the anarchy that would result if criminals KNEW that police could not chase them under any circumstances?  They would know they could rob a bank with virtual assurance that they would not get caught if they know all they have to do is speed up when the police try to stop them.  Drug dealers would have free reign -- as soon as five-oh shows up on the scene, just drive off because you know they can't chase you.  Even traffic laws would become a total joke.  Why obey the speed limit?  Just drive 90 all the time because the cops have to stay at 70. 

The policies of most police departments are fine.  There are rules on when and where they can continue pursuits.  They don't have unlimited freedom to continue the chase when the risk outweighs the urgency of catching the bad guy.  But, they have to make quick decisions in the heat of the moment so sometimes they will make mistakes.  And sometimes a pursuit doesn't seem to be getting out of control when suddenly the unexpected happens.  That's just the way it is.  But, we don't need to ban all police pursuits and give criminals free reign to do whatever they want to.

I do think that fleeing from a police officer should be an automatic class A felony.  It should be treated just the same as firing a gun into a crowd of people.  And if a death results from the pursuit, it should be a class Y felony (same as first degree murder).