In 2004 and 2005, Pittsburgh police engaged in 659 motor vehicle pursuits, in which a dozen innocent people were injured. On average, they covered 1.8 miles, lasted 2.85 minutes and were clocked at 37.3 mph.

Those statistics were revealed yesterday by Assistant Chief Paul Donaldson during a special meeting before City Council about the Pittsburgh Police Bureau's pursuit policy.

Also disclosed during the 90-minute public meeting was the fact that Pittsburgh police officers receive 16 hours of driver training in excess of state requirements, but never have to retrain unless they have poor driving records, according to Officer Roland Livermore of the city police academy.

Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle and Councilman Len Bodack -- the current and past chairs of the public safety committee -- called for the informational meeting in the wake of two recent crashes during police pursuits that ended with civilians being injured or killed.

Those incidents, one in Homewood and the other in Garfield, stemmed from officers trying to pull people over for minor violations before the suspects drove off and ultimately wrecked.

In the Homewood pursuit, which lasted 11.2 seconds, two people died. The accused driver faces homicide charges and was carrying a gun and drugs. Police were called off in the second chase just before the driver seriously injured a couple.

Council members sought basic information from police about why and how pursuits occur and general guidelines governing pursuits. Some pressed the police bureau to explore using technology -- such as camera networks to monitor fleeing vehicles or devices to immobilize them -- to eliminate the need for some chases. Others talked about stiffening penalties for the crime of fleeing and eluding, which is currently a second-degree misdemeanor.

A number of police departments across the country have restricted their pursuit policies in recent years to stop chasing someone for minor infractions or, in certain cities, even felonies such as driving a stolen vehicle.

Pittsburgh's policy, which has not changed since 1998, allows any officer to decide whether to initiate a pursuit and has no restrictions on the type of crimes meriting a pursuit. The only directive is that a chase is justified "only when the necessity of immediate apprehension outweighs the level of danger created by the pursuit."

Assistant Chief Donaldson noted that sometimes people behind the wheel might not even realize they are the target of a police car's lights and siren for a few blocks, thinking that perhaps the officer is trying to pull over another driver.

"As soon as we initiate the light and siren and they don't stop immediately, do we break it off?" Assistant Chief Donaldson said.

No matter what, he said, police should not pursue recklessly.

"Going 60 miles per hour through a residential area because someone ran through a stop sign -- that's reckless. That should not be done," Assistant Chief Donaldson said.

If there is any room for improvement, Assistant Chief Donaldson said, it lies with the enforcement of the pursuit policy -- specifically with police supervisors, who must monitor pursuits over the radio and can decide to terminate them at any time.

"The supervisors have to step up," Assistant Chief Donaldson said after the meeting. "Some people who cut it off don't allow any chases in their district. Others let them go too far."

All parties agreed it is difficult to write a policy that keeps the public safe from criminals while at the same time protecting them from the inherent danger of motor vehicle pursuits.

Councilman William Peduto suggested that the public would benefit if the police bureau's policy were made public. However, he noted a state law that reads: "A policy adopted under this section shall be confidential and shall not be made available to the general public."

"When the public knows what the policy is and the public is able to see that policy, they trust the policy," Mr. Peduto said, adding that it might be appropriate to take the matter to the state Legislature.

Also appearing before Council were City Solicitor Susan Malie, Deputy District Attorney Laura Ditka and Elizabeth Pittinger, executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board.