Reckless Pursuits, Reckless Outcomes: Georgia State Patrol Policy Under Fire After Fatal Crash
The death of a 19-year-old in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood brings a serious question back into the spotlight: Is the arrest of a fleeing driver worth the possibility of killing an innocent person?
On a quiet night in Atlanta’s vibrant Little Five Points neighborhood, the unthinkable happened. Cooper Schoenke, a 19-year-old driver, lost his life due to a high-speed police chase gone tragically wrong. Now, the Georgia State Patrol’s pursuit policy is under renewed scrutiny, raising difficult but necessary questions: When does public safety enforcement cross the line and endanger the very lives it claims to protect?
The Crash That Sparked a Firestorm
The Crash That Sparked a Firestorm
On April 13, 2025, a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) trooper attempted to stop a Chevrolet Equinox that was reportedly speeding and driving recklessly on I-20 East. The driver refused to comply, leading to a high-speed pursuit that wound through city streets and ultimately ended in Little Five Points—a bustling area known for its eclectic charm and pedestrian-heavy corners.
That pursuit ended in tragedy when the fleeing suspect’s vehicle crashed into Cooper Schoenke’s car, killing him on impact. Cooper was not involved in the chase. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his life was taken because of a decision made miles earlier on the highway.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. It was a preventable one, and now the policy that enabled it is being called into question.
What Is Georgia State Patrol’s Pursuit Policy?
GSP’s broad authority has led to concerns, especially given the high number of pursuits and their consequences. Between 2019 and 2023, GSP was involved in over 6,700 pursuits, resulting in more than 3,400 crashes, 63 deaths, and injuries to at least 1,900 people. Many of these chases began over misdemeanors or traffic violations, with bystanders and passengers often being the most affected.
In contrast, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) has implemented more restrictive pursuit policies. Following a series of deadly collisions, APD enacted a zero-chase policy in January 2020, especially concerning stolen vehicles, to prevent fatal accidents during pursuits.
The disparity between GSP’s and APD’s policies has led to calls for GSP to align more closely with local no-chase policies, especially when operating within city jurisdictions. Critics argue that without stricter guidelines, high-speed chases will continue to pose significant risks to public safety.
What does Georgia Law say about Police Chases?
Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-6(d)2 provides:
When a law enforcement officer in a law enforcement vehicle is pursuing a fleeing suspect in another vehicle and the fleeing suspect damages any property or injures or kills any person during the pursuit, the law enforcement officer’s pursuit shall not *473 be the proximate cause or a contributing proximate cause of the damage, injury, or death caused by the fleeing suspect unless the law enforcement officer acted with reckless disregard for proper law enforcement procedures in the officer’s decision to initiate or continue the pursuit. Where such reckless disregard exists, the pursuit may be found to constitute a proximate cause of the damage, injury, or death caused by the fleeing suspect, but the existence of such reckless disregard shall not in and of itself establish causation.
The question for the Court is ultimately: Did law enforcement engage in the pursuit with a reckless disregard for proper law enforcement procedures?
Community Reaction: Outrage and Grief
The reaction from the community has been swift and emotional. Residents of Little Five Points—known for its activism, creativity, and strong neighborhood ties—have expressed outrage and heartbreak over Cooper’s death.
Local organizations, including the Little 5 Points Alliance, have voiced serious concerns about the policy that enabled this pursuit. “This is not about anti-policing,” one resident stated during a vigil for Cooper. “It’s about policies that protect the people police are supposed to serve.”
The idea of high-speed chases ripping through neighborhood streets on a Saturday night terrifies many. The urban landscape is not designed for these dangerous tactics. Restaurants, live music venues, and crosswalks filled with families and friends are not compatible with police vehicles going over 80 mph in pursuit of suspects whose crimes often don’t justify the risk.
A Pattern of Tragedy
Tragically, Cooper’s story is not an outlier. Across the country, there has been a marked increase in deaths related to police chases in recent years. According to a 2023 report by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the post-pandemic era has seen a resurgence of high-speed pursuits—with deadly results. The report highlighted a disturbing pattern: many of these chases begin over minor traffic infractions and end in fatal collisions, often involving innocent civilians.
That same report called for law enforcement agencies to reevaluate their pursuit policies. It urged departments to limit vehicle chases to only the most serious offenses—situations involving violent felonies, kidnappings, or threats to life. Speeding, expired tags, or nonviolent drug offenses, the report argued, simply aren’t worth the risk to bystanders.
The data backs that up. Thousands of people in the U.S. have been killed over the last two decades as a result of police chases. A significant portion of those victims weren’t suspects. They were passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers—just like Cooper.
Policy vs. Accountability: Will there be any?
The GSP has announced that its Department of Public Safety Office of Professional Standards is actively investigating the crash. But for many, that’s not enough. Investigations into these kinds of incidents rarely result in meaningful accountability unless paired with policy reform.
Governor Brian Kemp and state lawmakers are now under pressure to respond. Some community leaders are calling for immediate changes to the GSP pursuit policy, proposing reforms that would align it more closely with the APD’s more restrictive approach. These proposed changes include requiring supervisor approval for chases, limiting pursuits to violent crime suspects, and mandating training on risk assessment.
Supporters of stricter policies argue that the answer is clearly no. Pursuits can be resumed later with surveillance, aircraft, or coordination with local departments. Modern policing has tools beyond brute force and high-speed tactics.
Opponents of reform argue that limiting chases could embolden criminals and lead to more suspects fleeing. But this is a slippery slope. The fundamental duty of police is to protect lives, not to risk them for a traffic stop.
Gov. Kemp issues statement defending GSP’s actions:
In response to advocates calling for further reform of law enforcement pursuit policies, Governor Brian Kemp issues a public statement defending the actions of GSP and placing full blame on the fleeing suspect:
“It is heartbreaking to see such a young life taken at the hands of a criminal seeking to evade justice. Let’s be clear: the leaders of the rejected Defund the Police movement have another bad idea and by misidentifying the Department of Public Safety Commissioner, have proven once again that they lack basic understanding of the facts.Those who break the law and act recklessly are to blame for the tragic and needless loss of these lives, and it’s shameful that anyone would seek to diminish the actions of those who caused these deaths and shift blame onto those who put their lives on the line every day to safeguard our communities. It is thanks to the brave and dedicated work of law enforcement and the full rejection of these short-sighted arguments that we have seen a historic drop in crime in our Capital city.”
– Garrison Douglas, Kemp Spokesperson
Final Thoughts
As the investigation unfolds, friends and family of Cooper Schoenke are left with their grief—and their anger. A life with so much promise was taken in seconds. No one can say what Cooper might have accomplished. He could have been a teacher, an artist, a scientist, or simply someone who made the world better for those around him.
What we can do is honor his life by ensuring his death was not in vain. That means taking a hard look at how policing is done in Georgia. It means making policy changes that reflect a commitment to public safety—not just in word, but in practice.
High-speed police chases may look dramatic on TV, but in real life, they are chaotic, unpredictable, and deadly. They are blunt instruments in a world that demands nuance and care.
Conclusion
Navigating a negligent police chase claim involves several critical steps. From consulting an attorney and filing the claim to investigating the incident, negotiating with insurance companies, and potentially going to trial. Each stage is vital in building a strong case and seeking justice for your loved one.
Consulting a negligent police chase attorney such as Nichols Injury Law can provide the legal expertise and emotional support needed to handle these complexities effectively. Understanding your rights and the legal process ensures that you are well-prepared to achieve a fair resolution and honor the memory of your loved one.
