Oakland is reeling from the death of Marvin Boomer following a California Highway Patrol chase of a suspect who crashed his car into a fire hydrant that struck and killed the 39-year-old treasured educator.

This grim tragedy did not occur in a vacuum. It happened right as debate over Oakland’s police pursuit policy has reached a fever pitch, following recent increases in crime and changes to department protocols.

In the past, Oakland police were allowed to engage in vehicular pursuits of people suspected of misdemeanors and other low-level crimes. But a 2011 audit found that such pursuits often led to collisions and injuries to civilians and officers. City policy was changed, limiting chases to cases where officers believe a suspect has committed a violent crime or has a gun.

In 2022

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