Two New York police officers were suspended after a stolen SUV that they had chased was found engulfed in flames early Wednesday morning, with the driver dead inside, officials said on Thursday.
The incident in Upper Manhattan is being reviewed by the Police Department’s force investigation unit and the state attorney general’s office, which are both charged with looking into deaths involving the police.
The driver was not identified. Nor did the police release the names of the two officers.
Firefighters received a 911 call at 4:56 a.m. Wednesday about a car on fire on Dyckman Street, James Long, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said.
When they arrived, they found a Honda CRV engulfed in flames and the driver dead inside, Mr. Long said.
The police said that the officers were pursuing the vehicle, which had been stolen, and that the entire incident is under investigation, including how the Honda ended up in flames and how the two officers responded. They did not say where the chase began.
The collision occurred about three months after Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that New York City police officers would no longer engage in high-speed chases of drivers who break traffic laws or commit other low-level offenses. The change was made in an effort to stop crashes that have led to serious injuries and deaths in America’s most densely populated major city.
“Our officers deserve clear guidance and smart protocols when determining whether to engage in a vehicle pursuit on our streets,” Commissioner Tisch said at the time. “The N.Y.P.D.’s enforcement efforts must never put the public or the police at undue risk, and pursuits for violations and low-level crimes can be both potentially dangerous and unnecessary.”
The police said the pursuit of the Honda appeared to be justified under the new policy, which still allows officers to chase drivers they believe have committed the “most serious and violent crimes.” Those include felonies, such as stolen vehicles, or violent misdemeanors.
In a statement, Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, said the officers were on patrol, “attempting to address chronic crime conditions in their precinct.”
“This incident is under investigation,” Mr. Hendry said. “And that investigation must be completed without any rush to judgment.”
Maria Cramer is a Times reporter covering the New York Police Department and crime in the city and surrounding areas. More about Maria Cramer
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