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The Houston Police Department's chase policy has changed again.

KHOU-TV

Mayor Bill White asked for the new chase policy to be suspended.

Days after the police chief announced that chasing suspects would be limited, Mayor Bill White on Monday announced that the city needs to take a step back.

HPD Chief Harold Hurtt did not want officers to chase people allegedly involved in minor offenses. That was HPD's policy until Monday morning.

"We have decided to hold the pursuit policy in abeyance until we can get it on the agenda of the public safety subcommittee, and we'll have discussions where we'll allow officers as well as citizens interested, individuals, to have additional comments," Chief Hurtt said.

Mayor White, who said he supports the chief's policy, asked the chief this weekend to suspend that policy.

"I think there was a ... breakdown in a process of reviewing that policy with council members and the union before it was announced," Mayor White said.

The mayor said he fully supports the chief and his autonomy. He also said he believes Chief Hurtt should be able to make his own policy but in this case, he believes the chief should have come to both his office and City Council.

But 11 News found out the changes were not run by the police union and it’s president said the policy would give a green light to all criminals.

“I think it’s somewhat of an asinine policy considering the volatile situation we are as far as crime in the city,, but it’s sending the message to criminals go ahead and run,” said Union President Hans Marticiuc.

Mayor Bill White, said he too was not informed of the changes. “I think there was from what I, a break down in the process of reviewing that account policy with council members and the union before that was announced that’s what I think.”

11 News found out the Chief had not meant for the changes to be made public. “I take full responsibility for that.. because I came in not this past Sat, but the Sat before that and did some paper work and signed the policy with the intention of it going to the legal section and it went to distribution.. simple as that,” said Chief Hurtt.

Simple maybe but it had big consequences because before a new police pursuit policy is put in effect the chief wants to hear from Houstonians who’ve been involved in high speed chases and of course first responders.

Officials said they’ll meet at a public forum in front of the Chief and city council.