U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter on July 22 to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Park Chief of Police Scott Brecht seeking information about the U.S. Park Police’s revised vehicle pursuit policy following the death of Nolberto Armando Sanabria Meza, a food delivery driver killed during a police chase in Washington, D.C.
Heinrich said he is concerned about transparency and oversight regarding changes to the vehicle pursuit policy that have followed President Trump’s Executive Order 14339, which was issued as part of measures addressing what was described as a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. The senator cited reports indicating an increase in car chases initiated over nonviolent offenses since these changes were enacted.
In his letter, Heinrich wrote: “I write to express serious concern about U.S. Park Police’s (USPP) new vehicle pursuit policy. Following the fatal accident of a Venezuelan delivery driver during a USPP police car chase in June 2026, I request that your Department provide full transparency and answers concerning the Department’s revised pursuit policy, and the measures being implemented to reduce the risk of future accidents and fatalities.”
Heinrich referenced previous guidelines under General Order 2205 that restricted pursuits primarily to violent felony suspects or those known to be armed, with supervisor approval required before initiating a chase. After President Trump declared a crime emergency with Executive Orders 14333 and later 14339 in August 2025, these requirements were relaxed so officers could pursue suspects for any felony offense or when they believed there was a public threat without needing prior supervisor approval—though notification is still required.
The senator highlighted that “studies have found that vehicle pursuits are among the most lethal activities in policing,” noting concerns about bystander safety given recent incidents like Mr. Meza’s death on William Howard Taft Bridge last month—the second reported fatality linked to USPP chases since last August’s change.
Heinrich concluded by requesting detailed data on officer training for new standards, supervisory oversight procedures for pursuits under current rules, resources available for real-time decision-making during chases, statistics on pursuits since August 2025 including outcomes involving crashes or injuries, especially among bystanders not connected to offenses pursued, and whether further review or public input will be considered before making permanent changes.