The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, a civilian oversight board, has ordered Chief Edward Flynn to do what he has said he would not: change his department's pursuit policy.

The move came after months of study and heated public debate about the policy, which critics argue has allowed the drug trade to flourish and influenced a culture of reckless driving in the city.

The Milwaukee Police Department permits officers to chase a vehicle if they have probable cause that it, or the people inside, was involved in a violent felony. The department tightened the policy so officers could not chase for misdemeanor offenses, such as drug possession, or nonviolent felonies, such as burglary.

The change came in 2010 after four bystanders were killed by drivers fleeing police. Since then, the pursuit policy has been criticized, often by Ald. Bob Donovan and the Milwaukee Police Association, the union that represents rank-and-file officers.

The debate was energized in April when a majority of Common Council members sent a letter to the Fire and Police Commission calling on board members to order Flynn to "re-prioritize traffic enforcement activity and to redraw his pursuit policy." Only two of the 15 council members — Alds. Milele Coggs and Terry Witkowski — didn't sign the letter.

On Thursday, the Fire and Police Commission issued a rare directive to Flynn, ordering him to change the pursuit policy to:

Create a "high-value target" list of vehicles used in rolling drug houses, a practice explored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as vehicles that have fled from police at least twice before.

Allow officers to chase vehicles on that list.

Allow officers to chase fleeing vehicles when officers have probable cause the vehicle engaged in "excessively reckless driving."

The commission told Flynn to submit the changes no later than July 27. If Flynn does not comply, the board wrote it may result in discipline up to and including firing.

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But the board also noted that, per state law, the chief must implement the directive unless it is overruled in writing by the mayor. Asked Friday if Mayor Tom Barrett intends to overrule it, a spokeswoman said Barrett has not yet reviewed the directive but will do so with the Milwaukee Police Department and the Fire and Police Commission.

The Milwaukee Police Department declined to comment Friday.

In a letter sent to the commission last month, Flynn said the pursuit policy was based on "personal experience, research, evidence-based findings and the dangers posed to the community."

"It was the responsible decision based on preserving public safety in a densely populated urban city," he wrote.

Ald. Michael Murphy on Friday applauded the move by the Fire and Police Commission, calling it an appropriate and necessary change.

The police union also hailed the commission's order, saying it made it clear that, "the current policy is not providing safer streets/communities and it (the policy) must be changed."