Welcome to a Safe Place

I welcome you to join this online "conversation." Post messages related to the blog posts or about a topic YOU want to discuss.


PursuitSAFETY is the only national nonprofit organization reaching out to bereaved families of innocent victims of pursuits and to survivors. For 100-plus years, the violent crashes that end vehicular police pursuits and response calls have killed and injured innocent bystanders and police officers.


Nine years ago when my daughter Kristie was killed, I had no place to turn to for the support I needed. Today, people have told me that PursuitSAFETY became their lifeline. They no longer have an overwhelming feeling of isolation because PursuitSAFETY is a safe place they can turn to for the support they need: to ask questions, to share their grief and to vent their anger and not be judged. They connect with people throughout the World, people who have a better understanding of what they are going through.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Taking a Stance Against Convicted Felon

Comment on our story about the hearing to keep the driver who killed Christopher Cooper in jail. Link to our newsletter.

IACP Conference: Police Chief Richard Schardan talks about Risk vs. Reward

Chicago--Police Chief Richard Schardan, Maryville, IL, will give his presentation "Police Pursuit Policy and Practice: Risk vs. Reward" at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference Sunday, Oct. 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., McCormick Place, Room W192ABC, Chicago. 

Chief Schardan serves on PursuitSAFETY's Professional Advisory Board and is the administrator of our Safer Way Award program.  

This workshop will reinforce the ethical aspects of vehicle pursuits and address the need to reverse the dangerous trend of current police driving behaviors. Participants receive practical recommendations/tools for creating or revising pursuit/response driving policies.  Link to the rest of the story and the entire newsletter!

PursuitSAFETY's Safer Way Award on IACP Highway Safety Committee Agenda

"The Safer Way Award honors officers and is needed because drivers who flee from the police do not care about anyone's safety," Candy Priano, PursuitSAFETY's executive director said. "I will speak about innocent victims and police officers killed or injured as a result of drivers fleeing from the police. The focus of my presentation is promoting the Safer Wsaferwayay Award and PursuitSAFETY's work finding sponsorship for an all-expense paid Safer Way Officers' Training Day."

In April 2011, the organization gave its first Safer Way Award to the St. Louis County Police Department. Their pursuit policy does not allow chases for property crimes which do not involve violence. Two detectives developed a plan to catch thieves who were breaking into cars at a rest stop. These officers were successful. They apprehended the suspects without a chase. Click here to watch the April presentation of this award and to download the 2012 nomination form. You can use email or the U.S. Mail to send your completed nomination form(s) to Chief Schardan.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

John Phillips, President of PursuitWatch

We remember John Harriss Phillips, 27, who left behind a memorable legacy for us to follow. He passed away of a stroke on August 4, 2011. A dedicated public-service advocate, John championed our cause as president of PursuitWatch and as a PursuitSAFETY advisory board member. He was a recent graduate of the Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship program, where he worked for two governors and helped shape policy for the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. We send our thoughts and prayers to John's mother, Patti; his sister, Mary; girlfriend, Andrea "Andi" Perez; and extended family members and friends.




 John Harriss Phillips
Born March 21, 1984  
Went to his Heavenly Home August 4, 2011
   

by Candy Priano, executive director of PursuitSAFETY

The memorial service for John Harriss Phillips was held yesterday, August 10th. I spent the day thinking about John. My thoughts took me back to 2006. In my mind, I could hear the telephone ring. I could hear the voice of a man. I could hear his strength, confidence and gentle nature: "Hi Candy, this is John Phillips."

My smile, if it were possible, would have stretched all the way from California to Florida because I knew all about John, even though this was our very first conversation. John is the son of the late Jim Phillips, the founder of PursuitWatch, a grassroots organization based in Orlando, FL.

Now, here was Jim's son on the phone telling me that he would continue the work started by his dad. Jim's passion for safer and smarter police pursuits was borne out of a father's love for his daughter. Sarah, a 21-year-old nursing student in 2001, was just minutes from home after a fun night at the movies with her girlfriends. She never made it home that night. A driver fleeing from police crashed into her car. Sarah died. 

John was grateful for the card and plant I had sent in memory of his dad. Jim had suffered a heart attack February 3, 2006.  

"Candy, I especially want to thank you for what you told the reporter about how my dad helped you. It means so much to my family."

"John, your dad ... I could always count on him. Jim was just a phone call away; and when we exchanged emails, it was as if he was sitting right beside me."

We talked for quite a while. John mentioned that he would look to me for advice and guidance. Hmm, I always looked to Jim for advice and guidance.  

From that moment, John and I worked together, united, as we tackled this complex public safety issue. In no time at all, we were asking each other for advice. The days, weeks, months and years that followed were a gift, a precious gift. Oh, how I will cherish them. 

My heart is broken because I will no longer hear the smile in his voice. I will, however, think of these words: "amazing," "free-spirited," and most of all "dear friend" every time I remember John.

PursuitSAFETY's August 11, 2011 Newsletter

Today is a first!  I am providing this space for you to comment on our newsletter.  I am sure this forum will improve with time.  Newsletter topics:

Taking a stance against convicted felon

Videos (6 short clips): Family & Friends Connection 2011

PursuitSAFETY's New Board of Directors

Setting up your Memorial Blood Drive

PursuitSAFETY's Advisory Board

Victims' Services offered by the PursuitSAFETY's Team

Spotlight on volunteer Glenn Doney

Other comments about the newsletter are welcome.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.