[RWebb]

IF the cruiser had his emergency lights on then he _probably_ got an emergency call. In most jurisdictions, he needs to proceed at a safe pace. A state cop definitely is trained in high speed car control. The state patrol policy manual will spell out exactly what he can or should do. sometimes there are state laws also (i.e. legislature passed law).

If his lights are off, he still may be on an emer. call (but needs to sneak up on thieves, for example).

He may also be headed for some hot do-nuts...

But generally a state trooper will the the cream of the crop (not counting the FBI - their agents are far above even that). I said generally. There are bad apples everywhere.

IF you see something wrong going on - try to videotape it. Or get another witness. File a complaint - or call and ask if it was an emergency. IF not, or if they won't tell you, then file a complaint. Good govt. requires that the people be involved, and that includes some degree of "policing the police."

Small town cops are - again generally - the worst. Those little township things they have in Penn. and NY are terrible and have been the subject of some really bad news articles.

Tidbit for you:

In Oregon, any citizen can enforce the traffic laws. And one citizen in Portland has taken a cop to court for a traffic violation he caught on video tape. I dunno the outcome of the trial.