My heart is broken. My grandson, Jaden Donavan James Bowman, was tragically killed at the tender age of 14 during a high-speed police chase. My daughter, Marissa Fairchild, has to bear this unimaginable loss of her son. This is a grief that nobody should endure, a nightmare that no family should experience. Lives should not be endangered by actions meant to protect us. We must do everything in our power to prevent these senseless tragedies.

High-speed police chases pose significant danger not only to those directly involved but also to innocent bystanders. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 355 people were killed annually in the United States as a result of police car chases. This number includes many innocent civilians who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The county of DeKalb, Indiana is not exempt from these unfortunate events. It becomes imperative for our community to proactively address these unnecessary risks. By enacting a law to ban high-speed chases, we can establish safer protocols for engaging suspects. States like California have successfully implemented policies that prioritize public safety without compromising the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Police officers have numerous non-lethal tools and technology options at their disposal. Techniques such as GPS tracking, aerial surveillance, and coordinated multi-agency efforts can effectively neutralize threats without high-speed pursuits.

We urge city officials, lawmakers, and law enforcement agencies in DeKalb County to consider the costs in human life and community wellbeing over the perceived need for high-speed apprehensions. The memory of Jaden Bowman, and countless others like him, should serve as a reminder of why safety must come first.

Sign this petition if you believe that we should protect our community by reducing the fatalities and injuries arising from high-speed police chases. Together, let's make DeKalb a safer place for our children and families.