Why not arm police cars and choppers with missiles to destroy the car they are chasing?

Question

After watching those cop shows where the police are tediously chasing down and crashing into the car they are chasing, it would be more convenient if those police cars and the near-useless choppers were armed with machine guns and missiles. Wouldn't it prevent innocents from being run over by the suspect as well? So why aren't they armed with more lethal weapons?

Answer 1

How often have police arrested the wrong guy? Or even if it's the right guy, how do they know he doesn't have a hostage in the back seat? Or then, what makes you think that missiles and machine guns are 100% accurate?

Answer 2

If they are using the same missiles that they use in Iraq chances are they they will hit an innocent bystander instead.  

Answer 3

Because it is a threat to the citizens that are near. Its like saying if Bin Laden is in a building are we going to bomb that building to just kill bin laden..............

Of course NOT

Answer 4

Great idea and I'd be all for it, but there would be too many inocent people killed through collatoral damage.

Not politically correct

Answer 5

Too expensive; left hates lethal force being used, and the first time some teenager doesn't want to get caught with his pants down and runs - and gets blown up - its over.  

Answer 6

Police choppers are not near useless.

Big brother is watching you.

Answer 7

are you even serious? honestly why would you think of that,  

Answer 8

Fully automatic firearms and explosive weapons are MUCH too indiscriminate.  There is a marked risk of hitting other cars with stray bullets, hence why police usually don't even shot at the tires with their pistols until they deem it safe when no civilians are around.

And obviously an missile will send lethal bits of shrapnel flying in all directions, even back at the cops!  And there is a risk in heavy traffic of blowing up nearby vehicles.

These are the real reasons police do not use military style weapons.  Not because of liability, but because they must work among innocents who could get hit in the crossfire.  This is unlike a warzone where all the people on the field are combatants.

What they need is something more high-tech, like the experimental "electrostatic road block."  As the car drives over it, a jolt of electricity essentially fries the transmission without hurting the occupants.  A newer prototype may even be able to be fired from a vehicle mounted cannon

Answer 9

h**l, most of them can't hit squat with what they carry now...

The police are charged with detaining and arresting , not judging and executing.