PANEL WANTS PURSUIT DETAILS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

In response to the June 1 death of a 4-year-old bystander, the Los Angeles Police Department has stepped up reviews of all officer-involved pursuits to ensure they are within policy and not endangering the public, a city panel was told Monday.

Deputy Chief David Doan told the City Council's Public Safety Committee the department is reviewing whether officers acted properly in initiating a pursuit in this case, and whether they also took steps to end the chase if it put the public in jeopardy.

``The vast majority of these end without problems,'' Doan said. ``We have a group of dedicated officers who are careful about when they begin pursuits and when they should be terminated.''

The LAPD also is looking at its entire pursuit policy - by looking at its own procedures and those of other agencies, and with an independent review - to determine whether changes should be made, Doan said.

The review was prompted by a 1.6-minute police pursuit that culminated in a chain-reaction crash in which 4-year-old Evelyn Vargas was hit and killed by a falling pole, which had been knocked down by a minivan hit by the suspect's vehicle.

Doan said the two officers involved in the event were ``devastated,'' and are undergoing counseling.

The panel also heard from Stephany Yablow, whose elderly parents were seriously injured when they were hit while walking in a crosswalk by a suspect being pursued by officers.

Yablow said the lives of her parents, who survived the Holocaust, have been irreparably harmed because of the LAPD's policies.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who chairs the panel, said she wanted to see details of what action the Police Commission takes, as well as more facts on what are some of the more common reasons that pursuits begin.

In the past year, Doan said, the department reported 702 pursuits - described as any time an officer turns on his flashing lights and sirens.

Miscikowski also questioned whether the city has a more-lenient policy than other jurisdictions on when pursuits are allowed to occur.

Councilman Jack Weiss, who also backed the need for a review of the city's policy, said he did not want to see the procedures tightened so far that criminal suspects would feel free to flee officers.

``We don't want them to think they are getting a pass just because they are entering a crowded area,'' Weiss said.