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Former officer and candidate Mike Termont opposes returning to 'reasonable suspicion' for vehicle pursuits
Summary
Answering a question about a Washington ballot initiative, candidate and former police officer Mike Termont said vehicle pursuits should require probable cause and be limited to violent felonies, arguing reasonable suspicion is too low a standard and increases public risk.
During a question about a Washington initiative to lower the legal standard for vehicular police pursuits, presidential candidate and former police officer Mike Termont urged voters not to restore a "reasonable suspicion" standard.
Termont said reasonable suspicion is a low bar defined by an officer’s belief and warned it could put communities at risk if officers chase vehicles based on hunches. "Do not go back to reasonable suspicion ... It's gotta be probable cause," he said, adding that vehicular chases should be limited to violent felonies.
Termont also proposed accountability measures such as ending most vehicle chases and requiring officers to carry liability insurance to create incentives against unnecessary pursuits. His answer drew attention from the audience for addressing a concrete, state-level ballot question with a specific public-safety recommendation.
The exchange provided a clear statement on policing policy from a candidate with law-enforcement experience; it contrasts with other candidates' broader policy remarks on criminal-justice issues.
