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Ocean Springs police: will avoid high‑risk chases of juveniles on e‑bikes; favor outreach and parental contact
Summary
Police told aldermen they will not pursue children on e‑bikes into traffic for safety reasons and described alternatives such as following to a safe place, contacting parents and voluntary registration/tagging programs. The department also plans social media outreach this summer.
Ocean Springs police officials told aldermen the department will avoid high‑risk pursuits of juveniles on e‑bikes and focus instead on de‑escalation, follow‑up and parent notification. Police Chief Steven said officers are trained to weigh "risk versus reward" and that they will not chase children into traffic.
"We're not chasing child out in traffic to get killed," Chief Steven said, describing the department’s non‑pursuit approach and its preference for getting the child to a safe location where officers can make contact and notify parents. Police described tactics such as following a juvenile discreetly to a parking lot or home and having officers approach only when the youth is off the device.
Council members and staff discussed voluntary registration or tagging programs as a non‑punitive way to identify devices and owners so emergency contact information could be available if an injury occurs. Staff cautioned those programs would require ongoing management and possible funding; police and parks staff offered to partner on outreach and voluntary events, including coordinated summer social‑media pushes and school programs.
