GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is changing its pursuit policy after a fatal collision.

The revisions come two months after a deadly crash killed five people on Battleground Avenue and New Garden Road. It happened when the driver of a stolen car ran a red light during a chase and crashed into another car killing Allie Bolick and Stephanie Warshauer as well as the people inside the suspect vehicle.

"We're going to do everything as safe as we can,” Sheriff B.J. Barnes says.

The office releasing updates Wednesday to its procedures that emphasize deputies remembering their first and primary duty is to protect the safety of the public before engaging in a pursuit.

"We've made it clear to our folks when you should and should not chase,” Barnes says. "We're still going to chase, we have a responsibility to catch the bad guys."

Changes the office plans to implement include mandating that deputies' supervisors monitor each chase and a new training program that requires deputies to annually undergo a total of eight hours of classroom work and hands on instruction.  

"Since we're involving what amounts to a 3,000 pound bullet, and that's what a car is, we're going to make sure everyone is safe and tries to keep the public as safe as we can,” Barnes said.

The families of Bolick and Warshauer released this statement about the policy revision:

The families of Stephanie Warshauer and Allie Bolick would like to express their gratitude to Sheriff Barnes and the entire Sheriff’s department for coming together and implementing positive, real change in this chase policy. Our concerns have always been with the safety of Guilford County residents and the brave law enforcement officers who protect them on a daily basis. we feel that these policy revisions accomplish that and appreciate their commitment to adhere to these new policies.  it is our hope that the new training program will also produce further internal changes in the years ahead which will continue to make Guilford County a safer place.

Barnes plans to do even more by trying to make a new law.

"We've got ‘run and done,’ which means if they run from the police officer, we can take their car. I'm going to take their freedom,” Barnes said. “I'm pushing legislature now and will continue to push legislatures to make active automatic jail time for anyone who runs from a law enforcement officer."

Barnes started this campaign soon after the deadly September crash while surveying other law enforcement agencies around the country to analyze their pursuit policies.