By Jon Farris, Chief Advocate

​PursuitForChange
PaulFarris.org

​November 28, 2024

I ​wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to do this.

But​ I think it​’s time.

I​ am ready.

So yes, it is time.

“Time for what?”, you ask.

Well, time to say goodbye to this advocacy and nearly eighteen years of effort to prevent unnecessary police pursuits.

​Throughout my time as an advocate for safer police pursuits, ​I’ve focused on ​​a​ handful of primary activities​.

• ​Trying to make sense of the ​May 27, 2007, easily avoidable police chase death of my son, Paul
• Helping other innocent victims navigate an unimaginable event in their lives
• Tracking ​​the truly ridiculous number of police pursuits​ occurring daily across the country
• Educating law enforcement authorities about the risks associated with pursuing for simple traffic ​violations or property crimes
• Collaborating with news organizations to ​help produce stories highlighting the problems with most pursuits and most pursuit policies
• Helping to create legislative actions ​aimed at prevent​ing additional innocent lives from being lost in police pursuits
• Working with​ and supporting companies developing new technologies that will reduce pursuits​

I’m ​proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I hope my efforts will have a lasting impact.​

But   I   am   tired. 

Perhaps I ‘heard’ Paul tell me, “It’s OK to rest, dad”, but even if that is only a wish, I think he’d be OK with this decision.

S​o on this chilly, snowy Thanksgiving Day, I give thanks to everyone who supported me throughout my journey. Each of you helped with an epic “pursuit for change” that will save innocent lives and prevent other families from having to live through unnecessary and preventable police pursuits.

Wishing each of you the inner strength to deal with whatever life tosses at you.

Signing off,

Jon