Officer Burch had a history of involvement in multiple traffic collisions during high-speed pursuits. Between September 1978 and June 1989, he was involved in twelve such incidents, four of which were related to high-speed chases. In June 1989, the City suspended Burch without pay for two days after determining he had been driving at an unsafe speed for road conditions. Subsequent incidents in the 1990s and late 1990s led to further disciplinary actions, including a five-day suspension and reassignment to the day shift.