It's a split-second decision that could put each one of us in danger - police officers making the call whether or not to chase a suspect trying to drive away.
What happens leading up to that critical moment varies by department across Northeast Ohio.
There have been two crashes stemming from police pursuits in as many days. Both started in the suburbs and made their way into Cleveland.
One of those crashes started in Shaker Heights and ended with two people dead on Tuesday after the car was torn into four large pieces.
A big push at the state level is working to streamline local pursuit policies that may be falling short.
The latest police chase started in Middleburg Heights early Thursday morning and quickly crossed city limits into Cleveland, reaching top speeds of 90 miles-per-hour. Dash cam video shows one of the two suspects jump out of the vehicle as it crashes into a garage at 145th and St. James.
The suspects were spotted outside a business acting suspicious, according to a witness who called 911.
The police chief in Middleburg Heights said like many departments, his allows officers to extend a chase into another city.
But, as with any chase, several things - including severity of the crime, time of day, speed and traffic conditions - must be taken into consideration.
However, there's a catch. Just as Middleurg Heights officers can chase a suspect into another city, another department with slightly different protocols could also chase a suspect into Middleburg Heights, which Chief Edward Tomba said can be problematic.
In 2016, the Ohio Attorney General's Office created an advisory group to come up with best practices and policies for departments to follow, should they choose.
The only thing Chief Tomba could tell News 5 about that advisory group is that he was aware the AG's office started something on the issue.
A spokesperson from the AG's office told News 5 that the final report issued to better protect officers and the public during chases was just a recommendation, and it cannot enforce police protocols.
The group wanted to see a state database created to collect vehicle pursuit information from police departments, which could then be analyzed to develop more best practices.
News 5 learned the AG's office never launched that database, and it's unclear if any other state agency ever did.
