TOMS RIVER, N.J. — An unlicensed teenager driving a BMW at 118 mph faces two counts of aggravated manslaughter after crashing into another vehicle at an intersection late Friday night, killing two people, authorities said.

Now, fingers are starting to be pointed at New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s restrictions on police intervention in non-violent incident, especially when suspects are driving at a high rate of speed.

If police could have continued their chase, could two lives have been saved? That’s to be determined.

Seaside Heights police initially spotted the BMW speeding south on Route 35 at more than three times the posted 35 mph limit before it continued onto the Tunney Bridge. Officers tracked the vehicle but did not pursue it, in accordance with New Jersey’s pursuit policy.

Instead, because of the state directive, police were forced to allow the car to speed away.

Shortly after, the teen crashed into a vehicle crossing the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166, killing both occupants. The driver has been taken into custody and charged.

The incident has sparked criticism of New Jersey’s pursuit policy, with social media users blaming state officials for limiting police chases.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and the teen’s actions leading up to the fatal collision.

Could the deadly crash have been avoided if police were allowed to pursue and try to stop the suspect? Unfortunately, we will never know.

While Governor Phil Murphy does not directly set New Jersey’s police pursuit policy, as it falls under the authority of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

However, as governor, Murphy has influenced broader law enforcement policies and supported changes to the state’s approach to police pursuits through his administration’s priorities, such as public safety and accountability.

The police pursuit policy in New Jersey has evolved in recent years, with significant updates occurring during Murphy’s tenure, reflecting input from his administration and the Attorney General.

As of the most recent updates, New Jersey’s police vehicular pursuit policy is governed by guidelines issued by the Attorney General’s Office. These guidelines dictate when officers may engage in pursuits, aiming to balance public safety with the need to apprehend suspects.

A key revision came in December 2020, when then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal overhauled the state’s use-of-force and pursuit policies—the first major update in two decades. This policy, which took effect on December 31, 2021, restricted pursuits to situations where an officer reasonably believes the suspect has committed a first- or second-degree offense (e.g., aggravated assault, arson, or auto theft) or poses an immediate threat to public safety or police. It emphasized limiting pursuits due to their inherent risks, such as crashes and bystander injuries, and prohibited pursuits based solely on minor offenses or speed.

However, in April 2022, Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin (appointed under Murphy) reversed part of this restrictive stance in response to a sharp rise in car thefts—up 37% from 2021 and 53% from 2020. The updated policy allowed police to pursue suspects for auto theft and receiving stolen vehicles, at least through the end of 2022, with a promise to reevaluate its impact.

This shift was paired with Murphy’s announcement of $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to expand license plate recognition technology, aiming to reduce the need for pursuits by improving tracking of stolen vehicles. Murphy framed this as a way to help officers “spend less time chasing leads and more time recovering stolen vehicles and getting car thieves off our streets,” reflecting his administration’s focus on addressing crime trends while managing pursuit risks.

The current policy, as shaped by these developments, requires officers to weigh the danger to the public against the need for immediate apprehension, end pursuits if risks outweigh benefits, and report all incidents for review. Supervisors must authorize pursuits, and officers are trained biannually on these guidelines.

Opinion – SNN Editorial

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