Yeah, that's sad. Prayers out for him and his family. And maybe he was chasing the bike because ... that's his job?
There's conflicting opinions about high-speed pursuits. They can/do result in participants and innocent bystanders being killed and injured, and property being destroyed, because the individual running from the police becomes more focused on getting away than on their surroundings. There's also the possibility of the police officer losing control of his vehicle (as happened in this case) and ploughing into someone.
Yes, it may be his job to apprehend the bad guys, but he could have coordinated a roadblock etc. without trying to drive his Tahoe like a sports car, which it obviously isn't. At that point he was being as irresponsible as the biker he was chasing. He's supposed to protect and serve the community.
The question becomes, is it worth killing yourself, the criminal, or a bystander for the sake of a speeding ticket? We had a persistant bike speeder in our neighborhood, the cops observed him and figured out where he worked and arrested him there, no need for a pursuit. Net result the same, he pays a fine and loses his license for a while.
I'm in favor of police visibility. Instead of being stealthy to catch speeders or engaging in high speed pursuits in residential/built up areas, make it obvious you're out there and nobody will exceed the limit (unless they're a loony.) Prevention is just as effective. Concealed speed traps are often set up where it's relatively easy for the cop to snag you, so they become an instrument for raising revenue for local government, and not an exercise in saving lives or making a road safer (because you're already driving "too fast" when you're caught.)
