Greetings!
 | | Jon Farris |
When Candy asked me to write a note for PursuitSAFETY's Fall e-newsletter, I wasn't sure what I'd say. Then I realized this will be posted on my son Paul's birthday. Paul would have turned 29 this year on Nov. 2; but in 2007, he became an innocent victim of an unnecessary police pursuit. So this year, my family will celebrate Paul's birthday quietly.
Even with often-heavy hearts, your PursuitSAFETY board continues to advance our mission. We welcomed and provided support to new families and individuals. We awarded the 2012 PursuitSAFETY "Safer Way Award" to the Dallas Police Department because they reduced pursuits and saved lives. Our Legislative Committee met in August to develop new strategies to help legislators enact stronger pursuit and response call laws. We continue to build an injuries/deaths database of police chase and response call crashes.
We do this work because it matters. We do this work because PursuitSAFETY is the only organization of its kind paying attention to this global public safety crisis. We do this work because we care.
On behalf of the PursuitSAFETY board and my family, I wish you happiness and inner peace during the upcoming holidays.
We are working for a safer way,
Jonathan "Jon" Farris
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
PursuitSAFETY's Makeover Unveiled
 PursuitSAFETY's new logo is meant to simplify in a big way. Our previous logo incorporated the full name of the organization, Voices Insisting on PursuitSAFETY. While this is still our legal name, we are now doing business as "PursuitSAFETY." This change better defines our identity.  | |
Lucas Aragon
|
Lucas Aragon volunteers his time, talent and financial support to PursuitSAFETY. He designed our new logo and is helping us with branding issues and marketing tips. This sleek look makes quite a presence on our website, printed materials and even our Safer Way Award (pictured below). When he's not helping us, Lucas is the design director of ABC Entertainment Marketing. Our board of directors thanks Lucas for sharing his talent with us. He is making PursuitSAFETY look so good! |
Dallas PD Earns 2012 PursuitSAFETY 'Safer Way Award'
Dallas Police Assistant Chief Randall Blankenbaker (pictured above, center) received the 2012 PursuitSAFETY "Safer Way Award" on behalf of the Dallas Police Department at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in San Diego, during the Highway Safety Awards Breakfast on October 2. Also pictured above are Maryville, IL, Police Chief Rich Schardan and Candy Priano, executive director of PursuitSAFETY. 
PursuitSAFETY thanks the IACP Highway Safety Committee for judging the annual PursuitSAFETY "Safer Way Award." We are thrilled that they are working with us to promote the "Safer Way Award."
Asst. Chief Blankenbaker said, "I believe the Dallas Police Department's pursuit policy is one of the best in the nation. It has proven to save lives. The policy and training remind officers that alternatives to pursuit exist and that additional resources are available to bring offenders to justice in a safer, more controlled manner."  In 2006, the Dallas Police Department instituted a prohibition on all pursuits except for violent felonies. In the two years prior to the change, vehicular pursuit crashes resulted in six fatalities, four of whom were bystanders in the respective pursuits. Other pursuit crashes caused 39 injuries.
In the year after the change, the number of pursuits dropped from 354 in one year to 70, with no fatalities in the subsequent year. Of those injuries suffered in the remaining pursuits, none required transport to a hospital.
Overall, as a direct result of Dallas' violent-felony-only pursuit policy, the number of pursuits, injuries to both citizens and officers, and related damage have declined dramatically.
Editor's Note: Family members and friends of innocent bystander James Williford (right column) of Austin, Texas, have expressed hope that their police department will adopt a policy similar to the Dallas PD. Other innocent victims from Texas (right column) are Shawn Williams of Baytown, and Walter and Wesley Maspero of San Antonio. We are grateful to the Dallas PD because they have shared their policy with PursuitSAFETY. Click here (pdf).
|
|
PursuitSAFETY Stays Strong
This Thanksgiving season gives us another opportunity to say "THANK YOU" to (click on this link) our financial donors. This pie chart shows how we spend your donations.
 90% of your donations go directly to our programs and victims' advocacy.
|
|
A Gift for You: Streams in the Desert
by Candy Priano
Atlanta, Georgia--After our loved ones die, people give us books that focus on a very personal topic called "Grief." We may open a couple books; but I suspect, for some of us, the majority of the books become dust collectors. That said, I have read several of these books and am grateful that I did read them. A few months ago, I received a helpful and wonderful book that did not tell me how to grieve. The daily devotions in Streams in the Desert fill me with the strength I need to get through many heartfelt issues and challenges. Its streams of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration come from the Bible. | |
Richard Hendrix
|
A longtime PursuitSAFETY financial donor and volunteer, Richard Hendrix, Esq., sent me this book, saying he would like to give this book to anyone who requests a copy! Today's Parting Comment at the bottom of this e-newsletter is taken from Streams in the Desert.
If you would like to receive this book, at no cost to you or to PursuitSAFETY, please send me an email with your mailing address. Write to: candy.priano@pursuitsafety.org.
Sidebar: My husband Mark and I had the privilege of dining with Richard and his lovely wife Carol Anne in New Orleans when the PursuitSAFETY Governing Board members met for our annual meeting. Richard attended this meeting to discuss Georgia's pursuit-related legislative issues and now serves on PursuitSAFETY's Legislative Committee. Thank you, Richard!
|
|
Families Set Dates for Memorial Blood Drives
Watch this video to learn how easy it is to set up a blood drive in memory of your loved one(s) and promote awareness about PursuitSAFETY. Christopher's mother, Cheryl Cooper, said the blood drive in his memory is the family's way of helping others. Please read more in this Red Cross
In 2013, the Kristie Priano Memorial Blood Drive will be Sun., Jan. 13, from 9am - 2pm at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church, 566 E. Lassen Ave., Chico, CA.
|
Parting Comment
From Streams in the Desert:Running "with patience" is a very difficult thing to do. The word "running" itself suggests the absence of patience, or an eagerness to reach the goal. Yet we often associate patience with lying down or standing still. . . . There is another kind of patience that I believe is harder to obtain--the patience that runs. . . . Yet, what is so difficult is that most of us are called to exercise our patience in the open street, for all to see. . . . in our workplace, while shopping, and during social events--contributing to other people's joy. No other way of burying our sorrow is as difficult as this, for it is truly what is meant by running "with patience." . . . If you would like to receive this book, at no cost to you or to PursuitSAFETY, please send me an email with your mailing address. Write to: candy.priano@pursuitsafety.org. Sidebar: Please recommend books that have helped you in your grief journey. Send the name, author, a passage from the book, and your review of the book. You just might find your book featured in this Parting Comment section. Use the above email address to send the necessary information. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013 Family & Friends Connection
|
Time  is NOT
on Our
Side
The PursuitSAFETY team is working for a safer way. The faces below and their stories show that we have much more work to do to reduce the number of deaths and injuries to innocent bystanders. These chases were not initiated to catch a murderer, rapist or pedophile. Yet, innocent lives were taken. Click on the pictures below to learn about these innocent bystanders.
|
interviewed Jon Farris
and Candy Priano
|
|
Innocent Victims Remembered
PursuitSAFETY posts tributes for loved ones killed or injured as a result of police pursuits and response calls. If you have not done so, please complete the Victim Tribute Form. We will post your family pictures, news stories and personal stories about your loved ones on both the PursuitSAFETY and Kristie's Law websites.
|
|
Our Partners
 |
Click on the Save Mart SHARES card, if you are a California shopper. 1. We will send you a SHARES card. 2. It costs you nothing to use, but every time you swipe your card at Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky and S-Mart stores, we will receive quarterly donations from Save Mart. It costs you nothing, but by swiping your Save Mart SHARES card, you are sending money to PursuitSAFETY. And, THANK YOU to all of Our Partners. |
|
PursuitSAFETY exists to save lives, help victims and unite people as we work for a safer way. Contact Candy Priano at 530-343-9754 or Jon Farris at 612-804-5868.
We would love for you to stay connected with us!
|
|
