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	Vol.7, No 47, November 18, 1999
	Don't blame police The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that people injured in high-speed pursuits cannot sue police. Suing the police for doing their job is outrageous. Granted, people who are hurt in these pursuits need some form of compensation, but it is not the officer's fault criminal's flee. If anyone should be sued and punished, it should be the criminal. He is breaking the laws. Suing police for doing their jobs would be like allowing students to sue teachers for making them do homework, or football players suing their coach for making them endure Hell Week. Unfortunately, when a fleeing criminal hurts an innocent person, he gets away. This is because the police stop to assist the injured person. The people who brought these cases to the Supreme Court claim that the police are more concerned with apprehending the suspect than the safety of the bystanders. If that is the case, why do the police stop to help the injured instead of continuing the pursuit? An attorney for one  plaintiff, Stephen Yagman, told the Los Angeles Times that he thinks 95 percent of people would want innocent people to be compensated for their injuries. That may be, but should the police provide the compensation? Or should we leave that to the criminals who create the dangers in the first place? Now we know the high court is on the side of the police. Why aren't the rest of us?		Smokeout helps smokers quit   Womenís forum gives ways to reduce holiday stress   Sex not taboo subject   MBAs earned faster at CSULB   Japanese tour group hopes to learn American ways   Police Log Donít blame police   Getaways good for piece of mind   Jumping the city 'Anywhere But Here' lacks creative storyline   Reviewer slams Pokemon, Pocket Size albums BASKETBALL PREVIEW Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.